Laguna Woods City Council
August 21, 2024

SB 375 also offers local governments regulatory and other incentives to encourage more compact new development and transportation alternatives.

The requirements of SB 375 are reflected in the 2020 RTP/SCS adopted by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), which serves as the regional planning agency in the six-county metropolitan region composed of Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties. The 2020–2045 RTP/SCS is discussed in further detail below.

4.5.4.3 Regional Regulations
The City is covered by several regional planning documents and programs that have varying degrees of regulation over land use in the City. The following paragraphs explain regional regulations, plans, and policies applicable to the Potential Housing Sites and Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses that are analyzed in this PEIR section.

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). As discussed above, regional planning in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties is conducted by SCAG. SCAG is also the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for these six counties. As the designated MPO, SCAG is mandated by the federal government to research and prepare plans for transportation, a growth forecast, hazardous waste, and air quality. The growth forecast serves as the foundation of these plans. Of the various plans adopted by SCAG, the Regional Comprehensive Plan and the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS are relevant to the proposed Project.

Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. On September 3, 2020, SCAG adopted the 2020–2045 Connect SoCal RTP/SCS. The 2020–2045 Connect SoCal RTP/SCS is a long-range visioning plan that builds upon and expands land use and transportation strategies established over several planning cycles to increase mobility options and achieve a more sustainable growth pattern. The overall vision for the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS is to chart a path 1 Senate Bill (SB) 1000, adopted in 2016 requires both cities and counties that have disadvantaged communities to incorporate environmental justice (EJ) policies into their general plans, either in a separate EJ element or by integrating related goals, policies, and objectives throughout the other elements. This update, or revision if the local government already has EJ goals, policies, and objectives, must happen “upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018.”

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4.5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.5 Land Use and Planning.docx «05/06/24» -6 toward a more mobile, sustainable and prosperous region by making connections between transportation networks, planning strategies, and the people whose collaboration can improve the quality of life for Southern Californians.

The goals of Connect SoCal fall into four core categories: economy, mobility, environment, and healthy/complete communities. The plan explicitly lays out goals related to housing, transportation technologies, equity, and resilience in order to adequately reflect the increasing importance of these topics in the region, and where possible the goals have been developed to link to potential performance measures and targets. The plan’s guiding policies take these goals and focus them, creating a specific direction for plan investments.

The following goals in the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS are applicable to the proposed Project:2 Goal 6: Support healthy and equitable communities.

Goal 9: Encourage development of diverse housing types in areas that are supported by multiple transportation options.

4.5.4.4 Local Regulations
Under the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code, the City has preeminent decision-making authority regarding allowable land uses on the Potential Housing Sites and Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan. The City of Laguna Woods General Plan contains goals, policies, and plans that are intended to guide land use and development decisions. The General Plan consists of the following seven elements, or chapters, which together fulfill the State requirements for a General Plan:
 Land Use Element
 Housing Element
 Circulation Element
 Conservation Element
 Noise Element
 Safety Element
 Open Space Element
At the heart of the General Plan is the Land Use Element (2017). This element presents the City’s goals and policies directing the long-term growth, development, and revitalization of the City. The Land Use Element serves as a guide to the allocation of land use in the City and has major impacts on key issues and subject areas examined in the other elements of the General Plan. The Land Use Map, which illustrates land uses within the City, is a primary feature of the Land Use Element. Land use designations indicate the type and nature of development that is allowed in a given location. 2 Goal 9 of the 2016–2040 RTP/SCS relates to planning/policy actions to be taken by regional and local agencies; therefore, it does not apply to the Project.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.5 Land Use and Planning.docx «05/06/24» 4.5-7 The following policies included in the City’s General Plan are relevant to the proposed Project:
 Housing Element
○ Goal H-1: Enable the development of housing necessary to accommodate current and projected housing needs, including for lower-income households and other special needs populations.
■ Policy Objective H-1.1: Make sites available to accommodate current and projected housing needs for groups at all income levels, in accordance with California Government Code Section 65583I(1).
□ Program H-1.1.1: Rezone the 17 potential housing sites identified in the Housing Sites Inventory and Analysis to accommodate the City’s housing needs allocation. ■ Policy Objective H-1.2: Assist in the development of adequate housing to meet the needs of extremely low, very low, low-, and moderate-income households.  Land Use Element
○ Objective I: Promote land uses that accommodate the diverse needs of City of Laguna Woods residents.
■ Policy I.A: Facilitate development of a variety of housing types that appeal to a broad spectrum of prospective new residents.
□ Implementation Measure I.A.1: Accommodate rezoning of properties consistent with Residential designations shown on the General Plan Land Use Map and with Housing Element goals for new dwelling unit construction. □ Implementation Measure I.A.2: Approve rezoning of Open Space land to nonresidential use consistent with the General Plan Land Use Map only after sufficient land is zoned for Residential use consistent with Housing Element goals for new dwelling unit construction.
 Noise Element
○ Objective II: Recognize the potential effects of noise early in the land use planning process to minimize or avoid detrimental impacts.
■ Policy II.B: Incorporate noise considerations into land use planning decisions.  Circulation Element Amendment
○ Objective I: Improve and expand transportation options within the City and to destinations outside the City.
○ Objective III: Maintain and improve existing circulation infrastructure.

The Project includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of

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4.5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.5 Land Use and Planning.docx «05/06/24» -8 streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads that could have a potential impact on land use and planning.

As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network.

City of Laguna Woods Zoning Code. Zoning is the division of a city into districts and the application of land use and development regulations specific to each district. The City of Laguna Woods Zoning Code, Title 13 of the Municipal Code, includes development standards applicable to the entire City.

It establishes zone-specific height limits, setback requirements, parking ratios, and other development standards, and specifies permitted and prohibited uses.

It is the intent of the City that the General Plan Land Use Element and the Zoning Code be consistent in order to ensure that long-term goals and objectives are implemented through land use regulations and other tools. The Zoning Code is a primary tool for implementing the City’s General Plan. There are various zoning districts within the City that operate with their respective development standards and use regulations. The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Of the Potential Housing Sites, nine sites (Sites 1–8 and Site 15) would be included in the Residential High Density Overlay, which would allow residential development at densities between 30–50 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). Five sites (Sites 9–12 and Site 17) would be included in the Residential Medium Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 15–20 du/ac. Two sites (Sites 13 and 16) would be included in the Residential Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 8–10 du/ac, and Site 14 would be within the Residential Medium Density Overlay, which would allow between 20–30 du/ac.

The proposed Project would also amend the zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses, which are owned by the City, the Golden Rain Foundation, and the El Toro Water District. The zoning districts on 10 properties (Site 18 and Sites 21–29) would be changed from Community Commercial, Open Space – Recreation, Open Space – Passive, and Residential Community to Community Facilities – Public/Institutional. The zoning districts on the other two properties would be changed from Residential Community to Open Space – Passive (Site 19) and Residential Multifamily to Open Space – Recreation (Site 20). As noted previously, the proposed rezoning and land use changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are considered to be administrative changes to the General Plan and zoning designations reflecting the actual existing use of the sites and providing consistency between the General Plan and zoning designations.

All zoning changes and overlays would adhere to Section 13.24.120 of the City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code.

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4.5.5 Thresholds of Significance
The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to land use and planning if it would:

Threshold 4.5.1: Physically divide an established community.

Threshold 4.5.2: Cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect.

4.5.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.5.1: Would the project physically divide an established community? No Impact. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations. Furthermore, any redevelopment on the Potential Housing Sites would replace existing structures within the built environment and proposed development plans would be reviewed for connectivity. Only one of the Potential Housing Sites consists of vacant land; however, even this one parcel is in an urbanized location and surrounded by the built environment. The proposed rezoning and land use changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are considered to be administrative changes intended to reflect the existing use and provide consistency between the General Plan and Zoning Code. The amended land use designations and zoning districts would not result in development at the affected properties that would physically divide existing communities.

The City is bordered on the north, east, and southeast by the City of Laguna Hills, on the northwest by the City of Irvine, on the west by unincorporated Orange County and the City of Laguna Beach, and on the south by the City of Aliso Viejo. Residential uses exist in the easterly, westerly, and southeasterly portions of the City. With the residential zoning overlays and the proposed land use amendments that are proposed as a part of the Project, the proposed Project would not divide an established community. Future site plans for each of the Potential Housing Sites would be subject to City land use regulation review which includes consideration of land use connectivity. Furthermore, the proposed Mobility Element renames the existing General Plan Circulation Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads that could divide an established community. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built out, and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network which actually enhances connectivity. The changes to the Noise and land Use Elements are necessary to update noise contour maps and provide internal consistency between General Plan elements. No mitigation is necessary.

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4.5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.5 Land Use and Planning.docx «05/06/24» -10 Threshold 4.5.2: Would the project conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the Project (including, but not limited to the general plan, planned community, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? Less Than Significant Impact. The main documents regulating land use for the Project site and the immediate vicinity are the City’s General Plan and its Zoning Code. The proposed Project’s relationship to these planning documents is described below. In light of SCAG’s request to evaluate the Project’s consistency with the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS, the proposed Project’s relationship to that document is also provided below.

SCAG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Community Strategies. Table 4.5.A, below, provides a consistency analysis of the goals from the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Connect SoCal Plan that are relevant to the proposed Project. In order to eliminate repetitive policies and focus on key issues, goals that are not relevant to the proposed Project are not included in Table 4.5.A. As stated in Table 4.5.A, the proposed Project would be consistent with applicable goals in the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Connect SoCal Plan, and no mitigation is required. The Project reinforces goals contained in the RTP/SCS by providing additional housing opportunities at in-fill urban locations proximate to residents’ daily service needs.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan. The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites, which are generally developed with commercial, office or community facilities land uses. The proposed Project also includes land use designation changes at the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses, which would be changed from Commercial, Open Space, or Residential Community to Community Facilities, and land use designation changes on the other two properties from Residential Community and High Density Residential to Open Space. As noted previously, the proposed rezoning and land use changes at the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses is to reflect existing land uses and provide General Plan Land Use and Zoning Code consistency. Table 4.5.B, below, provides a consistency analysis of the policies from the City’s General Plan that are relevant to the proposed Project. In order to eliminate repetitive policies and focus on key issues, policies that are not relevant to the proposed Project are not included in Table 4.5.B. As stated in Table 4.5.B, the proposed Project would be consistent with all of the applicable General Plan policies. Therefore, the proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to potential conflicts with applicable land use plans, policies, and regulations, and no mitigation is required.

The proposed Project also includes text changes in the Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, and renames the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The text changes to the Noise Element include an update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to scenic vistas. Text changes to the land use element are necessary to

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Goals Consistency Analysis
RTP/SCS Goal 6: Support healthy
and equitable communities.

Consistent. The proposed Project would support equitable communities by accommodating a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainably-priced housing for all income groups.

Additionally, the proposed Project would permit well-designed in-fill development that protects and enhances the quality of life and character of established neighborhoods and promotes healthy and safe living environments. The General Plan Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors.

RTP/SCS Goal 9: Encourage
development of diverse housing
types in areas that are supported
by multiple transportation options.

Consistent. The proposed Project would amend the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code to provide adequate potential housing sites with corresponding density to meet the City’s RHNA allocation of 997 housing units, inclusive of prior planning cycle carryover housing units. Furthermore, the Project includes the adoption of a Mobility Element designed to maintain a balanced, multi-modal transportation network. The proposed Project would accommodate the appropriate distribution of new multi-family housing throughout the City. The proposed Project would also decrease reliance on the automobile and encourage active lifestyles through policies and in-fill development that increase the safety, convenience, and integration of multiple transportation modes.

Source: Southern California Association of Governments. 2020–2045 Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS).

City = City of Laguna Woods
EIR = Environmental Impact Report
RHNA = Regional Housing Needs Assessment

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Policies Consistency Analysis
Housing Element
Goal H-1: Enable the
development of housing
necessary to accommodate
current and projected housing
needs, including for lower-income
households and other special
needs populations.

Consistent. The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Of the Potential Housing Sites, nine sites would be included in the Residential High Density Overlay, which would allow residential development at densities between 30–50 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). Five sites would be included in the Residential Medium Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 15–20 du/ac. Two sites would be included in the Residential Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 8–10 du/ac, and one site would be within the Residential Medium Density Overlay, which would allow between 20-30 du/ac. An objective of the proposed Project is to accommodate a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainably-priced housing for all income groups. The Project would increase the number of development opportunities for housing choices for residents that are lower-income and other special needs populations.

Policy Objective H-1.1: Make sites
available to accommodate current
and projected housing needs for
groups at all income levels, in
accordance with California
Government Code Section
65583(c)(1).

Consistent. The proposed Project would adopt zoning overlays on the potential housing sites with corresponding density to meet the City’s RHNA allocation of 997 housing units, inclusive of prior planning cycle carryover housing units. The proposed Project would accommodate the appropriate distribution of new multi-family housing throughout the City. As described above in the analysis for Housing Element Goal H-1, an objective of the proposed Project is to accommodate a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainablypriced housing for all income groups. The proposed Project would increase the number of development opportunities for housing choices for residents that are lower-income and other special needs populations.

Program H-1.1.1: Rezone the 17
potential housing sites identified
in the Housing Sites Inventory and
Analysis to accommodate the
City’s housing needs allocation.

Consistent. As described above in the analysis for Housing Element Policy Objective H-1.1, the proposed Project includes the adoption of zoning overlays to provide adequate potential housing sites with corresponding density to meet the City’s RHNA allocation of 997 housing units. Specifically, these amendments would include the adoption of overlay zoning districts on the Potential Housing Sites that would allow for residential development on these sites.

Policy Objective H-1.2: Assist in
the development of adequate
housing to meet the needs of
extremely low, very low, low-, and
moderate-income households.

Consistent. As described above in the analysis for Housing Element Goal H-1, an objective of the proposed Project is to accommodate a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainablypriced housing for all income groups. The Project would increase the number of development opportunities for housing choices for residents that are lower-income and other special needs populations.

Land Use Element
Objective I: Promote land uses
that accommodate the diverse
needs of City of Laguna Woods
residents.

Consistent. The proposed land use and zoning changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that those properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities. These land use designation changes would ensure that the sites would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future, thereby meeting the City’s needs for open space and community facilities to serve its residents.

Additionally, the adoption of overlay zoning districts on the Potential Housing Sites would allow for residential development on those sites, which would accommodate the diverse housing needs of City residents.

Policy I.A: Facilitate development
of a variety of housing types that
appeal to a broad spectrum of
prospective new residents.

Consistent. As described above in the analysis for Housing Element Goal H-1, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Of the Potential Housing Sites, nine sites would be included in the Residential High Density Overlay, which would allow residential development at densities between 30–50 dwelling units per

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Policies Consistency Analysis
acre (du/ac). Five sites would be included in the Residential Medium Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 15–20 du/ac. Two sites would be included in the Residential Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 8–10 du/ac, and one site would be within the Residential Medium Density Overlay, which would allow between 20–30 du/ac. The proposed zoning overlays would provide 17 different sites that are able to accommodate the development of housing with corresponding densities to meet the City’s RHNA allocation of 997 housing units, which would provide development opportunities for housing choices for a broad spectrum of prospective residents.

Implementation Measure I.A.1:

Accommodate rezoning of
properties consistent with
Residential designations shown
on the General Plan Land Use
Map and with Housing Element
goals for new dwelling unit
construction.

Consistent. As described above in the analysis for Housing Element Goal H-1, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. The overlay zoning districts would accommodate the new housing units so that the City can meet its RHNA requirements. This in turn would assist the City in meeting its goals for new dwelling unit construction, as outlined in the Housing Element.

Implementation Measure I.A.2:

Approve rezoning of Open Space
land to non-residential use
consistent with the General Plan
Land Use Map only after sufficient
land is zoned for Residential use
consistent with Housing Element
goals for new dwelling unit
construction.

Consistent. The proposed Project would consist of both the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites and minor administrative changes to reflect existing land uses and appropriate zoning are proposed at the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. The overlay zoning districts would accommodate the City’s need for sufficient land that is zoned for residential use so that it can meet its RHNA allocation of 997 units. The land use designation changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses include updating the land use designations on four sites from Open Space to Community Facilities to reflect the current uses on those sites. Each of the land use designation updates on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are land use changes to reflect existing uses and would not alter the existing setting.

Noise Element
Objective II: Recognize the
potential effects of noise early in
the land use planning process to
minimize or avoid detrimental
impacts.

Consistent. The proposed Project includes amendments to the General Plan Noise Element. Specifically, the proposed Project would update the noise contour maps in the Noise Element to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under General Plan build out. An objective of the proposed Project is to minimize exposure of sensitive noise receptors to the detrimental effects of excessive noise from new development by incorporating noise considerations into land use planning decisions. See Section 4.6, Noise, for further discussion of noise impacts associated with the proposed Project.

Policy II.B: Incorporate noise
considerations into land use
planning decisions.

Consistent. As described above in the analysis for Noise Element Objective II, the proposed Project would minimize exposure of sensitive noise receptors to the detrimental effects of excessive noise from new development by incorporating noise considerations into land use planning decisions.

Circulation Element
Objective I: Improve and expand
transportation options within the
City and to destinations outside
the City.

Consistent. As a part of the proposed Project, the City would rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, which is intended to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. The Mobility Element would focus on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network, which would meet the objective to improve and expand transportation options within the City.

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Policies Consistency Analysis
Objective III: Maintain and
improve existing circulation
infrastructure.

Consistent. The proposed Project would rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element which is intended to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel.

Sources: City of Laguna Woods. 2015. Conservation Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/ 07/2015-07-29-Adopted-CLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2022. Housing Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-08- 12-General-Plan-Housing-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2017. Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/08-2017- General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2015. Noise Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Noise-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2015. Circulation Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CirculationElement.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2015. Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Open-SpaceElement.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

City = City of Laguna Woods
RHNA = Regional Housing Needs Assessment
provide internal consistency between General Plan elements. The renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element is being provided to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads that could have a potential impact on land use and planning.

As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network and supporting regional transportation planning.

City of Laguna Woods Zoning Code. As described above, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. These new zoning overlays would be codified in the City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code.

Therefore, upon their approval by the City Council, the proposed zoning overlays would be consistent with the City’s Municipal Code and Zoning Code. Future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be reviewed against provisions of the Zoning Code as a part of the future development review process.

Overall, the proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to potential conflicts with applicable land use plans, policies, and regulations, and no mitigation is required.

4.5.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to land use and planning.

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4.5.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to land use and planning.

4.5.9 Cumulative Impacts
As defined in the State CEQA Guidelines, cumulative impacts are the incremental effects of an individual project when viewed in connection with the effects of past, current, and probable future projects within the cumulative impact area for land use and planning. The geographic scope of the cumulative land use and planning analysis is the City because the proposed Project would affect land use and planning throughout the City. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would be comprised of impacts from implementation of the proposed Project and any other proposed or approved projects which would contribute to physical impacts related to land use and planning.

The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. The proposed Project would also amend the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. These land use designation changes and rezoning actions would not have cumulative impacts because the proposed land use and zoning changes are administrative actions to properly reflect existing uses. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays, zoning changes, and updated land use designations would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations. The proposed Project supports the goals, policies, and objectives of the SCAG 2020–2045 Connect SoCal RTP/SCS, the City of Laguna Woods General Plan, and the City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code. Therefore, the impacts from the proposed Project are not considered to be cumulatively considerable. No mitigation is required.

4.5.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
No mitigation is required. The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to land use and planning.

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4.6 NOISE

4.6.1 Introduction
This section evaluates the potential long-term noise impacts associated with the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Update (proposed Project). This section is based on noise modeling completed by LSA. This section is also based, in part, on information provided in the City of Laguna Woods (City) General Plan and applicable provisions of the City’s Municipal Code.

4.6.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). No comment letters included a comment related to noise.

4.6.2 Methodology
Potential sources causing a permanent increase in ambient noise include noise resulting from increased traffic on roadways within the City. It is projected that traffic volumes on some streets within the City would increase and some would decrease due to the new residential development allowed under the proposed zoning overlays replacing existing land uses that result in higher traffic volumes. The significance criteria define a significant impact to occur if the Project would result in a substantial (3 A-weighted decibels [dBA] or greater) permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the Project vicinity above levels without the proposed Project. For traffic noise to increase by 3 dBA, traffic volumes would have to double. It should be noted that the updates to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are being proposed to ensure that the land use designations and zoning accurately reflect the existing uses on those properties and would not generate additional traffic.

The noise model SoundPlan was used to evaluate traffic-related noise conditions throughout the City. This model requires various parameters, including traffic volumes, vehicle mix, vehicle speed, and roadway geometry to compute typical equivalent noise levels during daytime, evening, and nighttime hours. The resultant noise levels are weighted and summed over 24-hour periods to determine the CNEL contours. Traffic volumes for Year 2045 without project and with project conditions were used to assess potential traffic noise level impacts in the City.

4.6.2.1 Characteristics of Sound
Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound. Noise consists of any sound that may produce physiological or psychological damage and/or interfere with communication, work, rest, recreation, and sleep.

To the human ear, sound has two significant characteristics: pitch and loudness. Pitch is generally an annoyance, while loudness can affect the ability to hear. Pitch is the number of complete vibrations, or cycles per second, of a wave resulting in the tone’s range from high to low. Loudness is the strength of a sound that describes a noisy or quiet environment and is measured by the amplitude of the sound wave. Loudness is determined by the intensity of the sound waves combined with the reception characteristics of the human ear. Sound intensity refers to how hard the sound wave

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4.6 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» -2 strikes an object, which in turn produces the sound’s effect. This characteristic of sound can be precisely measured with instruments. The analysis of a project defines the noise environment of the project area in terms of sound intensity and its effect on adjacent sensitive land uses.

4.6.2.2 Measurement of Sound
Sound intensity is measured through the dBA scale to correct for the relative frequency response of the human ear. That is, an A-weighted noise level de-emphasizes low and very high frequencies of sound similar to the human ear’s de-emphasis of these frequencies. Unlike linear units, such as inches or pounds, decibels (dB) are measured on a logarithmic scale representing points on a sharply rising curve. For example, 10 dB is 10 times more intense than 1 dB, 20 dB is 100 times more intense, and 30 dB is 1,000 times more intense. Thirty dB represents 1,000 times as much acoustic energy as 1 dB. A sound as soft as human breathing is about 10 times greater than 0 dB. The decibel system of measuring sound gives a rough connection between the physical intensity of sound and its perceived loudness to the human ear. A 10 dB increase in sound level is perceived by the human ear as only a doubling of the loudness of the sound. Ambient sounds generally range from 30 dB (very quiet) to 100 dB (very loud).

Sound levels are generated from a source, and their decibel level decreases as the distance from that source increases. Sound dissipates exponentially with distance from the noise source. For a single point source, sound levels decrease approximately 6 dB for each doubling of distance from the source. This drop-off rate is appropriate for noise generated by stationary equipment. If noise is produced by a line source, such as highway traffic or railroad operations, the sound decreases 3 dB for each doubling of distance in a hard site environment. Line source, noise in a relatively flat environment with absorptive vegetation, decreases 4.5 dB for each doubling of distance.

There are many ways to rate noise for various time periods, but an appropriate rating of ambient noise affecting humans also accounts for the annoying effects of sound. However, the predominant rating scales for human communities in the State of California are the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) and the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) or the day-night average level (Ldn) based on dBA. CNEL is the time-varying noise over a 24-hour period, with a weighting factor of 5 dBA applied to the hourly Leq for noises occurring from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (defined as relaxation hours) and with a weighting factor of 10 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (defined as sleeping hours). Ldn is similar to the CNEL scale but without the adjustment for events occurring during the evening hours. CNEL and Ldn are normally exchangeable and within 1 dBA of each other.

The City uses the CNEL noise scale for long-term noise impact assessment.

Other noise rating scales of importance when assessing the annoyance factor include the maximum instantaneous noise level (Lmax), which is the highest exponential time-averaged sound level that occurs during a stated time period. The noise environments discussed in this analysis for short-term noise impacts are specified in terms of maximum levels denoted by Lmax, which reflects peak operating conditions and addresses the annoying aspects of intermittent noise. It is often used together with another noise scale, or noise standards in terms of percentile noise levels, in noise ordinances for enforcement purposes. For example, the L10 noise level represents the noise level exceeded 10 percent of the time during a stated period. The L50 noise level represents the median noise level. Half the time the noise level exceeds this level, and half the time it is less than this level.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» 4.6-3 The L90 noise level represents the noise level exceeded 90 percent of the time and is considered the background noise level during a monitoring period. For a relatively constant noise source, Leq and L50 are approximately the same.

Noise impacts can be described in three categories. The first is audible impacts that refer to increases in noise levels noticeable to humans. Audible increases in noise levels generally refer to a change of 3 dB or greater because this level has been found to be barely perceptible in exterior environments. The second category, potentially audible, refers to a change in the noise level between 1 dB and 3 dB. This range of noise levels has been found to be noticeable only in laboratory environments. The last category is changes in noise levels of less than 1 dB, which are inaudible to the human ear. Only audible changes in existing ambient or background noise levels are considered potentially significant.

4.6.2.3 Physiological Effects of Noise
While physical damage to the ear from an intense noise impulse is rare, a degradation of auditory acuity can occur even within a community noise environment. Hearing loss occurs mainly due to chronic exposure to excessive noise but may be due to a single event such as an explosion. Natural hearing loss associated with aging may also be accelerated from chronic exposure to loud noise. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a noise exposure standard that is set at the noise threshold where hearing loss may occur from long-term exposures. The maximum allowable level is 90 dBA averaged over eight hours. If the noise is above 90 dBA, the allowable exposure time is correspondingly shorter.

4.6.3 Existing Environmental Setting

4.6.3.1 Existing Project Site
The City is located in the south-central portion of Orange County. Historically, the City was once a part of South Orange County’s expansive Moulton Ranch. Prior to the 1960s, dry farming and cattle grazing dominated the area, with a few scattered ranch dwellings and barns. In 1962, a portion of Moulton Ranch was purchased, and in 1964, it was developed into a retirement community for people aged 55 and older. The City is bounded on the northwest by Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and State Route 133 (SR-133) and on the northeast by Interstate 5 (I-5). State Route 73 (SR-73) is near the City’s southern boundary. Additionally, the City is bordered on the north and southeast by the City of Laguna Hills, the City of Aliso Viejo on the south, the City of Laguna Beach and unincorporated Orange County on the west, and the City of Irvine on the northwest.

The City is substantially built out with little opportunity for additional development. Likewise, the roadway circulation network is fully established with no plans to widen or expand the existing network. The major roadways in the City are the primary noise source along with I-5.

4.6.3.2 Existing Sensitive Land Uses in the Project Vicinity Certain land uses are considered more sensitive to noise than others. Examples of these land uses include residential areas, places of worship, educational facilities, childcare facilities, and recreational facilities. These land uses occur throughout various locations in the City and, in many cases, adjacent to the major roadways which comprise the primary circulation network.

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4.6 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» -4 The most predominant, noise-sensitive land use in the City is residential. This land use is considered especially noise sensitive because (1) considerable time is spent by individuals at home, (2) significant activities occur outdoors, and (3) sleep disturbance is most likely to occur in a residential area.

4.6.3.3 Overview of the Existing Noise Sources
Major noise sources in the City include freeways, major and minor arterial roadways, and noisegenerating stationary sources. These can be grouped into two basic categories: transportation sources (primarily traffic) and non-transportation sources. The most significant and common source of noise in urban areas is transportation related. It includes automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, railroads, and aircraft. Motor vehicle noise is of concern because of the traffic volume and roadway proximity to noise sensitive areas.

The primary roadway noise sources within the City limits consist of noise related to vehicle traffic on El Toro Road, Ridge Route Drive, Santa Maria Avenue, and Moulton Parkway. Laguna Hills Drive, Avenida de la Carlota, Paseo de Valencia, portions of Ridge Route Drive, and I-5 are primary noise sources located outside the City limits.

4.6.4 Regulatory Setting

4.6.4.1 Federal Regulations
United States Noise Control Act. In 1972, Congress enacted the United States Noise Control Act.

This act authorized the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to publish descriptive data on the effects of noise and establish levels of sound “requisite to protect the public welfare with an adequate margin of safety.” These levels are separated into health (hearing loss levels) and welfare (annoyance levels). For protection against hearing loss, 96 percent of the population would be protected if sound levels are less than or equal to 70 dBA during a 24-hour period of time. At 55 dBA Ldn, 95 percent sentence clarity (intelligibility) may be expected at 11 feet (ft), with no community reaction. However, 1 percent of the population may complain about noise at this level and 17 percent may indicate annoyance. The USEPA cautions that these identified levels are guidelines, not standards.

4.6.4.2 State Regulations
State Noise Insulation Standard. The State of California’s noise insulation standards are codified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Building Standards Administrative Code, Part 2, and the California Building Code. These noise standards are applied to new construction in California for the purpose of controlling interior noise levels resulting from exterior noise sources. The regulations specify that acoustical studies must be prepared when noise-sensitive structures, such as residential buildings, schools, or hospitals, are developed near major transportation noise sources, and where such noise sources create an exterior noise level of 60 dBA CNEL or higher. Acoustical studies that accompany building plans for noise-sensitive land uses must demonstrate that the structure has been designed to limit interior noise in habitable rooms to acceptable noise levels. For new residential buildings, schools, and hospitals, the acceptable interior noise limit for new construction is 45 dBA CNEL.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» 4.6-5 California Health and Safety Code, Division 28, Noise Control Act. The California Noise Control Act states that excessive noise is a serious hazard to public health and welfare and that it is the policy of the State to provide an environment for all Californians that is free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare. The goal is to minimize the number of people that would be exposed to excessive noise but not create an environment completely free from any noise.

State of California General Plan Guidelines. The State of California regulates vehicular and freeway noise affecting classrooms, sets standards for sound transmission and occupational noise control, and identifies noise insulation standards and airport noise/land-use compatibility criteria. The State of California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) 2017 General Plan Guidelines (OPR 2017), also provide guidance for the acceptability of projects within specific CNEL/Ldn contours. The General Plan Guidelines present adjustment factors that may be used in order to arrive at noise acceptability standards that reflect the noise control goals of the community, the particular community’s sensitivity to noise, and the community’s assessment of the relative importance of noise pollution.

4.6.4.3 Regional Regulations
There are no regional regulations related to noise that are applicable to the proposed Project.

4.6.4.4 Local Regulations
City of Laguna Woods General Plan. The development of effective strategies to reduce impacts of excessive noise is an essential part of the land use planning process. Since 1971, the Noise Element has been one of the seven mandatory elements of a General Plan. The Noise Element requires that noise sources be considered in establishing land use patterns so as to minimize exposure of residents to excessive noise. The Noise Element of the City’s General Plan1 works to minimize the effects of noise through proper land use planning, transportation-related noise impacts, and nontransportation-related noise impacts. Applicable Noise Element objectives and policies include the following:
 Objective I: Protect, to the extent feasible, sensitive noise receptors from the detrimental effects of excessive noise.
○ Policy IA: Use noise mitigation measures to reduce the impact from transportation noise sources.
 Objective II: Recognize the potential effects of noise early in the land use planning process to minimize or avoid detrimental impacts.
○ Policy IIB: Incorporate noise considerations into land use planning decisions. 1 City of Laguna Woods. 2002. November. Laguna Woods General Plan, Noise Element. Website:
https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-07-29-Adopted-CLWConservation-Element.pdf (accessed November 2022).

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4.6.5 Thresholds of Significance
The thresholds for noise impacts used in this analysis are consistent with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines and the City’s Local California Environmental Quality Act Procedures (2009). The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to noise if it would result in:

Threshold 4.6.1: Generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies.

Threshold 4.6.2: Generation of excessive ground-borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels.

Threshold 4.6.3: For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?

4.6.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.6.1: Would the project result in generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies?
Less Than Significant With Mitigation Incorporated. Potential temporary increases in ambient noise levels resulting from the future buildout of residential development projects enabled by the proposed Project that are subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review would be reduced to a less than significant level with incorporation of Mitigation Measure (MM) N-1.

Future year average daily trips (ADT) were calculated by LSA for future year 2045 with and without the proposed Project for roadways within the City that were identified as major noise sources in Section 4.6.3.3. The change in ADT with and without the proposed Project ranged from a decrease of 580 ADT to an increase of 360 ADT. The largest increase in ADT (360) is projected on Moulton Parkway between Ridge Route Drive and Santa Maria Avenue. The 1 percent increase in ADT is negligible. Table 4.6.A provides a comparison of the future year 2045 ADT with and without the proposed Project and the resultant noise level change.

A 3 dBA increase is considered to be perceptible by the human ear in an outdoor environment.

Therefore, the significance criteria define a significant impact to occur if a project would result in a substantial (3 dBA or greater) permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project’s vicinity above levels existing without the project.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» 4.6-7 Table 4.6.A: Traffic Noise Level Increase Comparing Without and With Proposed Project Roadway Segment
Future Year
(2045)
Without
Project ADT
Future
Year (2045)
With
Project
ADT
Change in
ADT
Noise Level
Change
(dBA CNEL)
El Toro Road Between Moulton Parkway and Avenida de la Carlota 7,980 7,950 -30 0.0 Santa Maria Avenue Between Avenida Sosiega and Santa Vittoria Drive 5,770 5,940 170 0.1 Between Santa Vittoria Drive and Moulton Parkway 8,390 8,140 -250 -0.1 El Toro Road Between Aliso Creek Road and Calle Corta 14,520 14,610 90 0.0 Between Calle Corta and Canyon Wren Lane 14,060 13,850 -210 -0.1 Between Canyon Wren Lane and Moulton Parkway 26,310 25,850 -460 -0.1 Between Moulton Parkway and Avenida Sevilla 28,830 28,990 160 0.0 Between Avenida Sevilla and Paseo de Valencia 28,520 28,710 190 0.0 Laguna Hills Drive Between Moulton Parkway and Paseo de Valencia 19,720 19,730 10 0.0 Moulton Parkway Between Ridge Route Drive and Santa Maria Avenue 30,250 30,610 360 0.1 Between Santa Maria Avenue and El Toro Road 36,150 36,210 60 0.0 Between El Toro Road and Calle Cortez 32,190 32,040 -150 0.0 Between Calle Cortez and Glenwood Drive 30,030 29,880 -150 0.0 Avenida de la Carlota Between Ridge Route Drive and Paseo de Valencia 14,920 14,890 -30 0.0 Paseo de Valencia Between Avenida de la Carlota and El Toro Road 13,010 13,000 -10 0.0 Between El Toro Road and Calle de la Magdalena 22,020 21,630 -390 -0.1 Between Calle de la Magdalena and Los Alisos Boulevard 19,160 18,580 -580 -0.1 Between Los Alisos Boulevard and Beckenham Street 31,860 31,360 -500 -0.1 Between Beckenham Street and Laguna Hills Drive 31,300 30,830 -470 -0.1 Source: Compiled by LSA (November 2022).

ADT = average daily traffic
CNEL = Community Noise Equivalent Level
dBA = A-weighted decibels

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4.6 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» -8 Potential sources causing a permanent increase in ambient noise include noise resulting from increased traffic on roadways within the City. It is projected that traffic volumes on some streets within the City would increase and some would decrease due to the proposed land use changes allowed under the zoning overlays which replace previous land uses that generate higher traffic volumes that the proposed residential uses. For traffic noise to increase by 3 dBA, traffic volumes would have to double. It is assumed that the vehicle mix would remain the same for both scenarios analyzed. As shown in Table 4.6.A below, the change in traffic volumes would result in traffic noise increases of up to 0.1 dBA, which is considered less than the threshold of perceptibility for humans (i.e., 3 dBA). Therefore, traffic noise regulated under the proposed Project would not be readily perceptible in outdoor environments. The negligible increases and decreases in 2045 ADT with the Project are consistent with the City’s Noise Element because there would be no change to sensitive noise receptors from the detrimental effects of excessive noise. Figure 4.6-1, Existing (2022) Traffic Noise Contours, illustrates the existing noise contours, and Figure 4.6-2, Future (2045) Traffic Noise Contours with Project, illustrates year 2045 noise contours with the Project.

Comparing the two figures, there is no discernible difference in the location of the 60, 65 and 70 dBA Ldn noise contours.

The Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Element updates and the renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element would not result in changes to the physical environment or result in impacts to recreation resources.

The Potential Housing Sites are adjacent to primary noise sources within the City (major roadways).

The provision of additional housing units could result in noise-sensitive land uses being located within or adjacent to noise contours above 60 CNEL. However, any new construction would need to be consistent with the General Plan Noise Element as described below in Regulatory Compliance Measure (RCM) Noise-1.

Therefore, implementation of the proposed Project would not allow the exposure of persons to noise levels in excess of applicable standards, and impacts would be less than significant. No mitigation would be required.

Threshold 4.6.2: Would the project result in generation of excessive ground-borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels?
Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed zoning overlays would allow for the development of 1,196 additional dwelling units on the Potential Housing Sites and would not generate operational vibration. In addition, vibration levels generated from Project-related traffic on the adjacent roadways are unusual for on-road vehicles because the rubber tires and suspension systems of on-road vehicles provide vibration isolation. Therefore, vibration generated from Project-related traffic on the adjacent roadways would be less than significant. No mitigation measures are required.

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I:\LWD2102.03\GIS\Pro\Laguna Woods ADT and Noise Analysis\Laguna Woods ADT and Noise Analysis.aprx (4/14/2023) FIGURE 4.6-1
Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update
Existing Traffic Noise Contours
LEGEND
City of Laguna Woods
Existing Traffic Noise Contours
60 dBA Ldn
65 dBA Ldn
70 dBA Ldn
0 1200 2400
FEET

LAGUNA HILLS DR

EL TORO RD

AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA

PASEO DE
M

VALENCIA
OULTON
PKWY

SANTA MARIA AVE

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I:\LWD2102.03\GIS\Pro\Laguna Woods ADT and Noise Analysis\Laguna Woods ADT and Noise Analysis.aprx (4/14/2023) FIGURE 4.6-2
Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update
Future (2045) Traffic Noise Contours with Project
LEGEND
City of Laguna Woods
Future Traffic Noise Contours
60 dBA Ldn
65 dBA Ldn
70 dBA Ldn
0 1200 2400
FEET

LAGUNA HILLS DR

EL TORO RD

AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA

PASEO DE
M

VALENCIA
OULTON
PKWY

SANTA MARIA AVE

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» 4.6-13 Threshold 4.6.3: For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? No Impact. The nearest airport to the Potential Housing Sites and the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses is John Wayne Airport, which is over 10 miles northwest. John Wayne Airport is a commercial and general aviation airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. The Potential Housing Sites and the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are not located within 2 miles of an airport or within the jurisdiction of an airport land use plan. No impacts would occur, and no further analysis is required.

4.6.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
Through compliance with the City’s General Plan and RCM Noise-1, potential noise impacts related to future residential dwelling units would be less than significant. Potentially significant temporary impacts associated with construction of the proposed Project would be reduced to a less than significant level with the incorporation of Mitigation Measure (MM) N-1, as presented below.

4.6.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures RCM Noise-1 Prior to the issuance of building permits by the City of Laguna Woods (City), the City shall conduct site plan review for any residential units located within 60 Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) noise contours and above. The site plan review shall be conducted consistent with the City’s Noise Element. New construction or development should be undertaken only after detailed analysis of the noise requirements is made and any required noise insulation features included in the design. The interior noise standard is 45 decibels (dB). The exterior standard for habitable exterior living areas, including private yards, private patios and balconies, and common recreation areas, is 65 dB.

MM N-1 Prior to discretionary approval by the City of Laguna Woods (City), residential development projects subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review (i.e., nonexempt projects) would be required to incorporate the following conditions:
 Prior to the issuance of building permits, the applicant shall submit a final acoustical report consistent with the requirements of the California Building Standards Code or City policy, provided that City policy is no less effective than the California Building Standards Code.
o The final acoustical report shall describe in detail the noise environment and mitigation measures necessary to achieve compliance with applicable noise standards. The report shall also describe and depict the locations of the acoustical barriers and design features of the structures required to satisfy the exterior and interior noise standards along with satisfactory evidence, which

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 The applicant shall incorporate the requirements of the City's Noise Ordinance as a note on the grading plan cover sheet, for review and approval by the City.
 The applicant shall incorporate the following measures as a note on the grading plan cover sheet:
o Construction equipment, fixed or mobile, shall be maintained in proper operating condition with approved noise mufflers. o Construction staging areas shall be located away from off-site receptors and occupied buildings on site during the later phases of project development.
o Stationary equipment shall be placed such that emitted noise is directed away from residential areas to the greatest extent feasible. o Construction access routes shall be selected to minimize truck traffic near existing residential uses where reasonably feasible.

4.6.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. A cumulative noise or vibration impact would occur if multiple sources of noise and vibration combine to create impacts in close proximity to a sensitive receptor. Therefore, the cumulative area for noise impacts is the City’s General Plan planning area and any sensitive receptors within the planning area.

Cumulative growth within the City could result in temporary or periodic increases in ambient noise levels at development sites throughout the City. However, construction-related noise would be temporary and would no longer occur once construction of individual projects is completed. In addition, construction activities associated with development anticipated under the proposed Project would be subject to compliance with the City’s Noise Ordinance to ensure that noise impacts from construction sources are reduced. These activities would also be carried out in accordance with RCM Noise-1, which identifies that future housing units will be constructed consistent with the City’s General Plan Noise Element. With compliance with the City’s Noise Ordinance and RCM Noise-1, impacts from the proposed Project would not be considered cumulatively considerable.

The proposed Project would not create a cumulatively considerable contribution to regional noise conditions. For traffic noise to increase by 3 dBA, traffic volumes would have to double.

Implementation of the proposed Project would not result in a doubling of average daily trips, and therefore, implementation of the proposed Project would not result in a 3 dBA increase in traffic

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.6 Noise.docx «05/06/24» 4.6-15 noise levels in the City. Further, based on a review of the Orange County Transportation Analysis Model (OCTAM) growth forecast within the City, which was used to determine VMT impacts of the proposed Project, model assumptions forecast minimal growth of households and employment for the City. Therefore, the likelihood of cumulatively considerable projects overlapping with the proposed Project is low.

Additionally, as previously noted, the proposed land use designation and zoning changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are proposed to accurately reflect existing uses and would not generate additional traffic nor additional noise. Therefore, the proposed Project would not result in cumulatively considerable long-term impacts related to noise.

4.6.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
With incorporation of Mitigation Measure N-1, the proposed Project would have less than significant impacts related to noise and vibration.

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4.7 POPULATION AND HOUSING

4.7.1 Introduction
This section describes the existing population and housing characteristics of Laguna Woods and Orange County and evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update (proposed Project) on population, housing, and employment growth. This section is based on sources of demographic information provided by various agencies, including the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the City of Laguna Woods (City) General Plan’s Housing Element (2023), the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation, the California Employment Development Department (EDD), and the United States Census Bureau.

4.7.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). Two comment letters included comments related to population and housing.

The letter from SCAG (August 15, 2022) requested that the proposed Project be consistent with the adopted Connect SoCal 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) and its goals. The letter from Caltrans (August 30, 2022) requested that the Project consider including a discussion on equity in the General Plan Element updates.

4.7.2 Methodology
Both City and County demographic information was used to describe the existing population, housing, and employment characteristics in Laguna Woods and Orange County. SCAG projections for these topics were identified for the existing conditions and Project build out. City goals and policies regarding population and housing were used to evaluate potential impacts that could result from the implementation of the proposed Project.

4.7.3 Existing Environmental Setting

4.7.3.1 Population, Housing, and Employment Trends in the City and County Laguna Woods is characterized by urban areas, including single-family and multifamily residential uses and small concentrations of commercial, office, open space, and community facilities uses.

Laguna Woods also contains several regional and community facilities and open space areas. Laguna Woods is primarily characterized by its population of older adults living in age-restricted communities.

Laguna Woods and Orange County are located within the SCAG planning area, which encompasses a population exceeding 19 million residents in an area of more than 38,000 square miles. SCAG is a federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)1 encompassing six counties 1 An MPO is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policymaking organization that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities. In 1962, the United States Congress passed legislation that required the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000.

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4.7 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.7 Population and Housing.docx «05/06/24» -2 (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties) and 191 cities. In 2020, the SCAG Regional Council adopted the 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) Demographics and Growth Forecast (SCAG 2020) to project growth in employment, population, and households at the regional, county, jurisdictional, and subjurisdictional levels. The SCAG RTP/SCS Demographics and Growth Forecast is meant to provide a common foundation for regional and local planning, policymaking, and infrastructure provisions within the SCAG region.

The growth forecast for Orange County and Laguna Woods in the SCAG RTP/SCS Growth Forecast is provided in Tables 4.7.A and 4.7.B. These projections are used as a reference point for discussing population and housing growth throughout this section.

Table 4.7.A: SCAG Population, Households, and Employment Forecasts for Orange County (2020–2045)
Year Population Households Employment
2016 3,180,000 1,025,000 1,710,000
2020 3,268,000 1,065,000 1,774,000
Percent Change (2016–2020) 2.8% 3.9% 3.7%
2030 3,441,000 1,104,000 1,886,000
Percent Change (2016–2030) 8.2% 7.7% 10.3%
2035 3,499,000 1,125,000 1,928,000
Percent Change (2016–2035) 10.0% 9.8% 12.7%
2045 3,535,000 1,154,000 1,980,000
Percent Change (2016–2045) 11.2% 12.6% 15.8%
Source: 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographic and Growth Forecast (SCAG 2020). Website: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/ main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal_demographics-and-growth-forecast.pdf (accessed July 6, 2022).

RTP/SCS = Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy SCAG = Southern California Association of Governments
Table 4.7.B: SCAG Population, Households, and Employment Forecasts for Laguna Woods (2016–2045)
Year Population Households Employment
2016 16,300 11,400 5,400
2045 16,500 11,500 6,800
Percent Change (2016–2045) 1.3% 0.9% 25.9%
Source: 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographics and Growth Forecast (SCAG 2020). Website: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/ main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal_demographics-and-growth-forecast.pdf (accessed July 6, 2022).

RTP/SCS = Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy SCAG = Southern California Association of Governments
Population. As shown in Tables 4.7.A and 4.7.B, according to the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographics and Growth Forecast by Jurisdiction (SCAG 2020), Laguna Woods’ population is anticipated to grow by approximately 1.3 percent between 2016 and 2045, and Orange County’s population is expected to grow by 11.2 percent between 2016 and 2045. The 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographics and Growth Forecast by Jurisdiction does not contain information for the years 2020, 2030, or 2035 at the City level, and therefore, those years are omitted from Table 4.7.B. Orange County’s population is anticipated to increase by approximately 8.2 percent by 2030, 10.0 percent by 2035, and

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11.2 percent by 2045 from the County’s 2016 population of 3,180,000 persons, thereby showing an anticipated steady increase in population from the base year.

Age Characteristics. A city’s age distribution often shapes its housing demand. According to the City of Laguna Woods General Plan Housing Element (2023), different age groups require different accommodations based on lifestyle, family type, income level, and housing preference. Table 4.7.C provides a comparison of Laguna Woods’ and Orange County’s population by age group using data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimate. As shown in Table 4.7.C, Laguna Woods and Orange County greatly differ in their proportions of residents in each age group. The largest portion of the population for Laguna Woods is the 65 and over age group (82.8 percent) whereas the largest portion of the population for Orange County is the 25 to 44 years age group (27.4 percent). The median age of Laguna Woods is 75 years old whereas the median age for Orange County is 38 years old, suggesting that the population median age in Laguna Woods is much older than that in Orange County.

Table 4.7.C: Laguna Woods and Orange County
Age Characteristics
Age Group Laguna Woods Orange County
Persons Percentage Percentage
Under 5 Years 0 0.0% 6.0%
5 to 17 Years 10 0.1% 17.0%
18 to 24 Years 23 0.1% 9.5%
25 to 44 Years 100 0.6% 27.4%
45 to 64 Years 2,666 16.5% 26.6%
65 and Over 13,429 82.8% 13.9%
Total 81,812 100.0% 100.0%
Median Age 75 38
Source: United States Census Bureau. Table S0101, American Community Survey 2018 5-Year Estimate (U.S. Census Bureau 2018).

Households.2 As shown in Tables 4.7.A and 4.7.B, Laguna Woods’ number of households is anticipated to grow by 0.9 percent and Orange County’s number of households is anticipated to grow by 12.6 percent between 2016 and 2045. Laguna Woods’s number of households is anticipated to increase by approximately by 100 households between 2016 and 2045, while Orange County’s number of households is anticipated to increase by approximately 129,000 households between 2016 and 2045.

Employment. As shown in Tables 4.7.A and 4.7.B, according to the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographics and Growth Forecast (SCAG 2020), employment in Laguna Woods is anticipated to grow by approximately 25.9 percent between 2016 and 2045, and employment in Orange County is expected to grow by 15.8 percent between 2016 and 2045, representing an increase of approximately 0.9 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Employment in Laguna Woods is anticipated to increase by approximately by 1,400 employees between 2016 and 2045, while employment in Orange County is anticipated to increase by approximately 270,000 employees between 2016 and 2045.
2 The Southern California Association of Governments forecasts “households” not housing units. As defined by the United States Census Bureau, “households” are equivalent to occupied housing units.

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4.7 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.7 Population and Housing.docx «05/06/24» -4 As of May 2022, Laguna Woods had a labor force of 3,200, and Orange County had a labor force of 1,581,400, with approximately 100 and 38,400 people unemployed, respectively (EDD 2022c). The May 2022 unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for Laguna Woods and 2.4 percent for Orange County. As of May 2022, construction employment in Orange County was 104,800. This is similar to construction employment in the previous year (101,800 employees in May 2021) (EDD 2022a).

Construction in Orange County is approximately 10.6 percent above Orange County’s 10-year construction employment average from May 2012 to May 2022 (94,787 construction jobs) (EDD 2022b).

Jobs/Housing Balance. Jobs/housing balance is a regional concept that encourages the designation and zoning of sufficient land for residential uses with appropriate standards to ensure that adequate housing is available to serve the needs derived from the local employment base. The jobs-tohousing ratio can be used as the general measure of balance between a community’s employment opportunities and the housing needs of its residents. Theoretically, a city’s jobs/employment ratio (number of jobs compared to number of employed residents) would be 1:1 if the number of jobs in the City equaled the number of employed residents. However, assuming a simple ratio of one job to one household is inappropriate in modern economies that have many households with more than one person in the workforce. According to SCAG’s The New Economy and Jobs/Housing Balance in Southern California, a balance between jobs and housing in a metropolitan region can more appropriately be defined as a provision of an adequate supply of housing to house workers employed in a defined area (i.e., subregion or community) (SCAG 2001).

The City’s General Plan Housing Element states that it ranks 33rd of the 34 cities in Orange County in the Orange County Business Council’s Workforce Housing Scorecard, which addresses total job growth, housing as a percentage of total Orange County housing, jobs-to-housing ratio, and changes in housing density. However, the City of Laguna Woods has been developed primarily with agerestricted residential uses along with some limited commercial and service sector uses. Laguna Woods and the surrounding subregions are considered “housing rich,” and many residents drive to other parts of Orange County or neighboring counties for employment.

SCAG applies the jobs-to-housing ratio at the regional and subregional level as a tool for analyzing the fit between jobs, housing, and infrastructure. The American Planning Association (APA) is an authoritative resource for community-planning best practices, including recommendations for assessing jobs-to-housing ratios. The APA recognizes that an ideal jobs-to-housing ratio will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In general, the recommended target for an appropriate jobs-tohousing ratio is 1.5, with a recommended range of 1.3 to 1.7 (APA 2003).

Laguna Woods is not currently within the jobs-to-housing ratio range recommended by the APA.

According to the 2020–2045 RTP/SCS Demographics Growth Forecast (SCAG 2020), Laguna Woods had a jobs-to-housing ratio of 0.5 in 20163 and is projected to have a jobs-to-housing ratio of 0.6 in 2045.4 The low ratio of jobs-to-housing is mostly due to the fact that majority of the housing in the City is allocated for seniors aged 55 and up who are likely to be retired. 3 5,400 employees / 11,400 households = 0.5 4 6,800 employees / 11,500 households = 0.6

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4.7.4 Regulatory Setting

4.7.4.1 Regional Regulations
Southern California Association of Governments. As the designated MPO for the six-county subregion that includes Orange County, SCAG prepares several plans to address regional growth, including the RTP/SCS. The regional growth forecasts undertaken by SCAG are developed for three planning horizons: 2030, 2035, and 2045. SCAG is mandated by federal and State law to research and draw up plans for transportation, growth management, hazardous waste management, and a regional growth forecast that is the foundation for these plans and regional air quality plans developed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCAG prepares several plans to address regional growth, including the Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide, Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP), and the annual State of the Region reports to measure progress toward achieving regional planning goals and policies.

Regional Comprehensive Plan. The Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP), prepared by SCAG to address regional growth, was adopted in 2008 by the member agencies of SCAG. The RCP sets broad goals for the Southern California region and identifies strategies for local and regional agencies to guide their decision-making process. The RCP provides strategies for local governments to address issues related to future growth within a regional context. The RCP is provided to local governments for their voluntary use when preparing local plans and handling local issues of regional importance.

The current RCP incorporates and summarizes the SCAG Compass Growth Vision and the 2% Strategy adopted by the Regional Council in April 2008. The recommendations made in the RCP call for infrastructure and resource activities consistent with the envisioned growth pattern. The policies in the RCP attempt to reduce emissions and increase mobility through strategic land use changes.

The majority of the RCP goals and policies are applicable to SCAG and the local governments and are not applicable at the individual project level. However, the following RCP/Compass Blueprint land use and housing strategies are applicable to the proposed Project:
• Focusing growth in existing and emerging centers and along major transportation corridors • Injecting new life into underused areas by creating vibrant new business districts, redeveloping old buildings, and building new businesses and housing on vacant lots Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. The 2020–2045 RTP/SCS was adopted on September 3, 2020. The RTP/SCS is a long-range visioning plan that balances future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental, and public health goals. The RTP/SCS charts a course for closely integrating land use and transportation so that the region can grow smartly and sustainably. The long-term vision will address regional transportation and land use challenges and opportunities.

The RTP/SCS includes:
• Visions, policies, and performance measures
• Forecasts (e.g., population, households, employment, land use, and housing needs)

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• A list of projects (to be initiated and/or completed by 2040) • An analysis of priority focus areas (e.g., goods movement and active transportation) Regional Growth Forecast. The regional growth forecasts undertaken by SCAG are developed in 5-year increments through 2040. The projected growth in population, household, and employment comprise the data relied upon during development of SCAG’s RTP, SCS, and RHNA. Consistency with the growth forecast at the subregional level is one criterion that SCAG uses in exercising its federal mandate to review “regionally significant” development projects for conformity with regional plans.

Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Local jurisdictions are required by State law (Government Code Section 65580 et seq.) to plan for their fair share of projected housing construction needs in their region. Housing unit construction goals are set by the State Department of Housing and Community Development and allocated to cities through regional planning agencies such as SCAG.

This is called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Future housing need refers to the proportion of the region’s future housing needs allocated to a community. Each jurisdiction’s future housing need is calculated in terms of four factors: (1) the number of units needed to accommodate forecast global household growth; (2) the number of units needed to replace demolition due to attrition in the housing stock (i.e., fire damage, obsolescence, redevelopment, and conversion to non-housing uses); (3) maintenance of an ideal vacancy rate for a well-functioning housing market; and (4) an adjustment to avoid an overconcentration of lower-income households in any one jurisdiction.

The RHNA prepared by SCAG defines the housing unit goals for the region. The City’s share for the planning period between October 1, 2021, and October 1, 2029, (the current adopted RHNA period) was established by SCAG at 997 units. The RHNA target number was based on projected household growth and the resulting need for construction of additional housing units allocated over an 8-year planning period (2021–2029). This 997-unit share was divided into the following income groups according to median family income (MFI) (see Table 4.7.D):

Table 4.7.D: City of Laguna Woods RHNA Allocation by Income Category
Income Level Percentage of Area MFI No. of Units Percent of Total Housing Needs Allocation
Very Low 0–50% 127 12.7%
Low 51–80% 136 13.6%
Moderate 81–120% 192 19.3%
Above Moderate >120% 542 54.4%
Source: City of Laguna Woods General Plan Housing Element (Laguna Woods 2022).

MFI = median family income
RHNA = Regional Housing Needs Assessment
Each jurisdiction is required to create an annual report on the status and progress in implementing the housing element of its general plan using forms and definitions adopted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The first annual report for the current Housing Element was submitted to HCD in 2024 and indicated that no new housing was constructed.

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4.7.4.2 Local Regulations
City of Laguna Woods General Plan Housing Element. The Housing Element is required by California State law to be a component of every city’s General Plan because housing needs are recognized as a statewide concern. As such, the Housing Element of a jurisdiction’s General Plan is the only element that is subject to approval by the State. Pursuant to State law, the Housing Element must identify the City’s housing needs, the sites that can accommodate these needs, and the policies and programs to assure that the housing units necessary to meet these needs can be provided. The primary goal of the Housing Element is to provide a range of housing opportunities for all income groups.

In February 2022, the 2021–2029 Housing Element was adopted as a guide for housing within Laguna Woods. The Housing Element provides an indication of the need for housing in the community and addresses housing development, housing conservation, affirmatively furthering fair housing, and housing element implementation. The following goals are found in the City’s Housing Element:
• Goal H-1: Enable the development of housing necessary to accommodate current and projected housing needs, including for lower-income households and other special needs populations. • Goal H-4: Provide for analysis related to housing element implementation.

The Housing Element also contains policy objectives and programs that are intended to formulate the City’s approach to pursuing the production, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing units and to meeting its goals outlined above.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Land Use Element. The Laguna Woods General Plan Land Use Element also contains a policy relating to ensuring that new development is supported. The following policy is found in the City’s Land Use Element:
• Policy I.A: Facilitate development of a variety of housing types that appeal to a broad spectrum of prospective new residents.

4.7.5 Thresholds of Significance
The thresholds for population and housing impacts used in this analysis are consistent with Appendix G of the State of California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (State CEQA Guidelines) The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to population and housing if it would do the following:

Threshold 4.7.1: Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure).

Threshold 4.7.2: Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere.

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4.7.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.7.1: Would the project induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? Less Than Significant Impact. As discussed above, the City’s housing needs allocation for the planning period between October 2021 and October 2029 is 997 units.

The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Of the Potential Housing Sites, nine sites (Sites 1–8 and Site 15) would be included in the Residential High Density Overlay, which would allow residential development at densities between 30–50 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). Five sites (Sites 9–12 and Site 17) would be included in the Residential Medium Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 15–20 du/ac. Two sites (Sites 13 and 16) would be included in the Residential Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 8–10 du/ac, and Site 14 would be within the Residential Medium Density Overlay, which would allow between 20–30 du/ac.

The proposed Project would also amend the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. The zoning districts on 10 properties (Site 18 and Sites 21–29) would be changed from Community Commercial, Open Space – Recreation, Open Space – Passive, and Residential Community to Community Facilities – Public/Institutional. The zoning districts on the other two properties would be changed from Residential Community to Open Space – Passive (Site 19) and from Residential Multifamily to Open Space – Recreation (Site 20). As noted above, these minor administrative changes are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses would not induce substantial unplanned growth.

The zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units. According to the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS), the average household size in structures that have 50 or more housing units (the highest housing density type evaluated in the AHS) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 1.99 persons. Because most of the proposed zoning overlays would allow for higher density housing, 1.99 persons per household was deemed appropriate for use in the analysis contained in this PEIR. Therefore, the additional 1,196 housing units that would potentially be built in the City are estimated to result in an increase in 2,382 residents.

Future development allowed under the rezoning program would accommodate planned regional housing growth included in the SCAG RHNA. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlay and updated land use designations would be required to adhere to the City’s General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations. Ultimately, as part of the development review process, all future projects would be required to demonstrate that service providers would ensure adequate public services and utilities are available. Additionally, each of the Potential Housing Sites is located in urbanized settings with a full range of public services and utilities. Sixteen of the Potential Housing Sites are

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.7 Population and Housing.docx «05/06/24» 4.7-9 currently developed with non-residential land uses, and one of the Potential Housing Sites is a vacant parcel located in an urbanized location and surrounded by a built environment. Future residential uses would replace existing land uses and not induce additional growth or require the extension of roads or other infrastructure because the roads and infrastructure are already in place with adequate capacity to serve the Potential Housing Sites. Thus, any public service or utility demand associated with the proposed Project would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it; impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

The proposed Project includes text changes in the Land Use Element. These text changes provide internal consistency between General Plan Elements and would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to public services and utilities. The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Noise Element to update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan update. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to public services and utilities. Therefore, the Noise Element update would have no impact on public services and utilities. The Project includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads that could have a potential impact on public services and utilities. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built out, and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network which is beneficial to public services and utilities by utilizing existing resources to enhance mobility. Thus, any public services or utility demand associated with the proposed zoning overlays would not be substantial; impacts would be beneficial in terms of efficient utilization of existing infrastructure, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Threshold 4.7.2: Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? No Impact. The proposed Project would amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance and the Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements of the City’s General Plan and rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would allow for the construction of up to 1,196 housing units. The proposed zoning overlays would not displace existing people or housing because none of the Potential Housing Sites are currently developed with residential uses. Rather, the proposed Project would add increased housing opportunities for future residents of the City. Text changes to the Noise and Land Use Elements and the introduction of the Mobility Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to population or housing. The changes to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites

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4.7 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.7 Population and Housing.docx «05/06/24» -10 Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. None of the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are developed with residential uses, thus no displacement of existing people or housing would occur.

Therefore, the proposed Project would not result in any impacts related to the displacement of substantial numbers of existing people or housing. No mitigation is required.

4.7.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to population or housing.

4.7.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to population and housing.

4.7.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. The impact area used to assess potential cumulative population and housing impacts is Laguna Woods because the proposed Project would affect population and housing within Laguna Woods. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would only consider impacts from implementation of the proposed Project which would contribute to population and housing growth in the Project vicinity.

The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. The proposed Project would also amend the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. These minor administrative changes are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. As such, the approval of these minor administrative changes would not result in any cumulative population and housing impacts. The proposed zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units. Future development allowed under the rezoning program would accommodate planned regional housing growth included in the SCAG RHNA. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlay and updated land use designations would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations. Additionally, the proposed Project would not, in and of itself, result in impacts from the displacement of people or housing, because none of the Potential Housing Sites are currently developed with residential uses.

Therefore, the impacts from the proposed Project are not considered to be cumulatively considerable.

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4.7.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to population or housing, and mitigation measures are not required.

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4.8 PUBLIC SERVICES

4.8.1 Introduction
This section describes the public services within the City of Laguna Woods (City) and evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed Project on public services. This section addresses the following public services (service providers are noted in parentheses):
• Fire Protection (Orange County Fire Authority [OCFA]) • Police Protection (Orange County Sheriff’s Department [OCSD]) • Public Schools (Saddleback Valley Unified School District [SVUSD], Laguna Beach Unified School District [LBUSD], and Capistrano Unified School District [CUSD]) • Parks (City of Laguna Woods)
• Public Libraries (OC Public Libraries [OCPL])

4.8.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). Two letters included comments related to public services.

The letter from the Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) (August 8, 2022) requested that the PEIR evaluate the potential impacts of the Project on SVUSD schools by identifying the location of the properties and calculating the number of dwelling units that may be developed as well as the number of students generated, by grade level and school. SVUSD also requested an evaluation of potential impacts on school capacity and possible overcrowding, and requested that the PEIR and the proposed updates to the City’s General Plan focus on possible impacts to student safety and well-being.

The letter from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) (August 30, 2022) requested that the Project consider providing a discussion about the City’s multimodal mobility strategies relating to transit bus and rail services as well as active transportation for local and regional connectivity. Caltrans also requested that the Project consider a discussion about wayfinding signage to transit stops within the Project vicinity and local roadways.

4.8.2 Methodology
Demographic information and information regarding the public services for the City of Laguna Woods was used to describe the environmental setting in the City. This information was obtained through the use of the City’s General Plan, the City’s Municipal Code, the United States Census Bureau, and individual websites for each of the City’s public service agencies.

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4.8.3 Existing Environmental Setting

4.8.3.1 Fire Protection
The City contracts with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) for fire protection services. OCFA is a Joint Powers Authority responsible for reducing loss of life and property from fire, medical, and environmental emergencies. OCFA serves 23 cities in Orange County (County) and all unincorporated areas in the County and protects over 1.9 million residents through its 77 fire stations located throughout the County.

In addition to providing fire, emergency medical, and rescue services, OCFA provides a variety of public services, including:
• Receiving and dispatching emergency calls;
• Providing public education programs to schools, businesses, community associations, childcare providers, and other members of the community;
• Administering a Reserve Firefighter Program;
• Adopting and enforcing codes and ordinances relative to fire and life safety issues associated with commercial, industrial, and residential development; • Maintaining firefighting helicopters used for emergency responses throughout the year; • Coordinating the inspection of all commercial buildings, investigating all fires, and enforcing fire code hazardous materials inspections;
• Working with developers and jurisdictional planning departments on development projects impacting fire protection services, from conception through planning process approval; • Interacting with developers, architects, and engineers to meet the fire protection requirements for buildings and developments by reviewing all architectural blueprints, development plans, and proposals submitted in OCFA's jurisdiction;
• Conducting an inventory program of hazardous materials stored, handled, and used within OCFA's jurisdiction, and maintaining related information on a database accessible to all emergency response agencies in the event of a major emergency; • Conducting California Fire Code inspections, assisting in reducing risks associated with the use of hazardous materials in the community, and administering the State-mandated Risk Management and Prevention program;
• Investigating fires to determine their cause, preparing arson and hazardous materials cases for the District Attorney’s Office, and initiating actions to recover costs for negligently caused fires; and

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» 4.8-3 • Developing and maintaining a fire-safe corridor between the wildland and community developments through fuel modifications and inspections.

Laguna Woods is in Division 5, which includes Battalion 4. Division 5 serves the Cities of Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel.

Fire Station No. 22 is the only OCFA station within Laguna Woods. The fire station is located at 24001 Paseo de Valencia in the northeastern portion of the City. Fire Station No. 22 personnel would be the first responders to the Potential Housing Site in the event of an emergency and would therefore be designated as the “first-in” station. Station No. 22 is staffed by three fire captains, three fire apparatus engineers, and six firefighters. In 2021, OCFA responded to 6,016 calls in Laguna Woods (OCFA 2021).

In the previous decade, OCFA’s average response time1 for emergency calls remained relatively constant at less than 5:53 minutes per call (OCFA 2022b). Response time, which measures the elapsed time between a 9-1-1 call answer and the first fire department unit arrival, is 7:03 (80th percentile) and 8:12 (90th percentile) (OCFA 2022b). The ratio of firefighters to residents is 5.9 firefighters per 10,000 residents.

4.8.3.2 Police Protection
The City contracts with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) for law enforcement services. According to the OCSD’s website, the OCSD has approximately 3,800 sworn and professional staff members and more than 800 reserve personnel (OCSD 2022a). The OCSD’s Southwest Operations Division provides law enforcement services to more than 305,000 residents within the southern portion of the County, including the City of Laguna Woods. OCSD personnel are assigned to the City, including a Captain and Deputy Sheriffs.

4.8.3.3 Public Schools
The provision of education and school facilities in Laguna Woods is the responsibility of three separate school districts: the Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD), the Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), and the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD). All 17 of the Potential Housing Sites are located within the jurisdiction of SVUSD. Additionally, 11 of the 12 Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are also located within the jurisdiction of SVUSD. Site 23, which is located in the southwestern portion of the City, is within the LBUSD’s attendance boundaries. As previously discussed, the proposed administrative changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to ensure that the land use designations and zoning reflect existing conditions and would not result in student generation. Because all of the Potential Housing Sites are located 1 OCFA defines response time as the time interval between Dispatch Notification and Arrival on Scene. It includes Dispatch time, Turnout time, and Travel time. Response time goals are established through OCFA policy. Response time performance is generally measured for the first unit on scene (Distribution) and for an Effective Response Force (Concentration). Incident response times are impacted by many variables including availability of first due units, travel distance, traffic, geography, weather, and street networks.

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4.8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» -4 within the SVUSD, analysis regarding student generation will only consider the SVUSD and not the LBUSD or CUSD.

SVUSD has a capacity of 30,598 students as of the 2021–2022 school year and includes all or part of Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and unincorporated Orange County (SVUSD 2022b). Governed by a six-member Board of Education—including one student member—SVUSD currently (2021–2022 school year) operates 23 elementary schools (grades TK–6), 4 middle schools (grades 7–8), 4 high schools (grades 9-12), and 4 alternative education schools.

Although the City is not currently included within a specific school attendance boundary, the following SVUSD schools are likely to serve the Potential Housing Sites based on their proximity to the City: San Joaquin Elementary, Aliso Viejo Middle School, and Laguna Hills High School.

Table 4.8.A shows district-wide capacity by school level and the excess or shortage in capacity to accommodate for those students.

Table 4.8.A: Existing School Facilities Capacity and Student Enrollment School Level 2021–2022 Facilities Capacity 2021–2022 Student Enrollment Excess/(Shortage) Capacity
Elementary School 14,830 12,203 2,627
Intermediate School 4,995 3,585 1,410
High School 10,773 8,460 2,313
Total 30,598 24,248 6,350
Source: Residential and Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study, Table 1 (SVUSD 2022b).

SVUSD = Saddleback Valley Unified School District
As shown in Table 4.8.A, the capacity of the SVUSD’s facilities exceeds student enrollment at all school levels for school year 2021–2022. Therefore, 2,627 elementary school seats, 1,410 intermediate school seats, and 2,313 high school seats are available to house students generated from the residential units.

4.8.3.4 Parks
Section 4.9, Recreation, provided later in this PEIR, contains a detailed discussion related to parks and recreational facilities located within Laguna Woods. The City maintains and operates three public parks, including an area for resource preservation, within the City. Local open spaces that are used for recreational and resource preservation uses comprise approximately 226 acres. According to the Laguna Woods Municipal Code, the City determines the need for park space based on its population. The City requires 2.5 acres of park space per 1,000 residents.

4.8.3.5 Public Libraries
The Orange County Public Library (OCPL) system provides library services to Orange County, including the City of Laguna Woods. The OCPL system includes 32 branches, one of which is located in Laguna Woods. The Laguna Woods Library is located at 24266 El Toro Road. The City opened the building housing the Laguna Woods Library in January 2024.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» 4.8-5 The City’s General Plan does not provide a ratio for library space per capita. However, the Public Services and Facilities Element of the Orange County General Plan denotes a standard of 0.2 square feet (sf) of library space per capita which has been accepted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors as a planning guide for the purpose of projecting the number and location of new libraries needed.

4.8.3.6 Public Transportation
The proposed Project is within the Orange County Transportation Agency (OCTA) bus service area.

OCTA connects Laguna Woods with surrounding cities and regional transit service. OCTA also provides paratransit service through its ACCESS Service. This shared-ride paratransit service serves areas within 0.75 mile of an OCTA fixed route service.

OCTA currently maintains 3 bus routes: Route 83, Route 89, and Route 90, that each run through Laguna Woods. Route 83 provides 35 weekday trips per day, 33 Saturday trips, and 26 Sunday and holiday trips (OCTA 2022a). Route 89 provides 22 weekday trips per day and 14 weekend trips (OCTA 2022b). Route 90 provides 22 weekday trips per day, 12 Saturday trips, and 10 Sunday and holiday trips (OCTA 2022c).

4.8.4 Regulatory Setting

4.8.4.1 Federal Regulations
There are no federal policies or regulations applicable to public services for the proposed Project.

4.8.4.2 State Regulations
Assembly Bills 2926, 1600, and 2751. To assist in providing facilities to serve students generated from new development projects, the State enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 2926 in 1986, which allows school districts to collect impact fees from developers of new residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Development impact fees are also referenced in the 1987 Leroy Greene LeasePurchase Act, which requires school districts to contribute a matching share of the costs for the construction, modernization, or reconstruction of school facilities. Subsequent legislation has modified the fee structure and general guidelines. In 1987, the provisions of AB 2926 have been expanded and revised by AB 1600, which limits the ability of a school district to levy school fees unless (i) there is a need for the School Fee revenues generated, and (ii) there is a nexus or relationship between the need for School Fee revenues and the type of development project on which the School Fee is imposed.2

Senate Bill 50 and California Education Code Section 17620. Senate Bill (SB) 50, the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998, was signed into law on August 27, 1998. It is a program for funding school facilities largely based on matching funds. The approval of Proposition 1A authorized funds for SB 50 in the amount of $9.2 billion, including grants for construction of new schools and modernization of existing schools. The new construction grant provides funding on a 50/50 State and local match basis. The modernization grant provides funding on a 60/40 State and local match 2 The requirements of AB 1600 were clarified with the passage in 2006 of AB 2751, which codifies the findings of Shapell Industries vs. Milpitas Unified School District.

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4.8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» -6 basis. Districts that are unable to provide some or all of the local match requirements and are able to meet financial hardship provisions may be eligible for additional State funding.3 SB 50 (codified as California Education Code Section 17620) allows the SVUSD to levy a fee, charge, dedication, or other requirement against any development project within its boundaries for the purpose of funding the construction or reconstruction of school facilities. The maximum fee amount that school districts can assess is limited by statutes provided in California Government Code Section 65995. The SVUSD collects the maximum new school construction facility fee at a rate of $4.79 per square foot of new residential construction.4
The payment of these fees by a developer serves to mitigate all potential impacts on school facilities that may result from implementation of a project to levels that are less than significant (see California Government Code Section 65996). Stated another way, the provisions of SB 50 provide full and complete mitigation of school facilities impacts, notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or other State or local laws. The California Department of Education permits local school districts to increase facility fees subject to Department of Education review and with approval of a nexus study from the school district that demonstrates that costs incurred by the school district for the provision of school facilities and services are higher than Level 1 funding provides. In such an instance, a nexus must be demonstrated in the study between the increase proposed by the local school district and the actual cost of provision of school facilities and services.

California Building Code Title 24. Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the California Building Code (CBC or Title 24), contains the design standards that govern the construction of buildings in California to “safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulation and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures and certain equipment.” The 2022 edition of the CBC contains general building design and construction requirements relating to fire and life safety, structural safety, and access compliance. The Triennial 2022 CBC edition became effective January 1, 2023, and is composed of 12 parts. Part 2 of the CBC outlines building design and construction requirements relating to fire, life safety, and structural safety.

California Fire Code. The California Fire Code (CFC) includes regulations for emergency planning, fire service features, fire protection systems, hazardous materials, fire flow requirements, and fire hydrant locations and distribution. Several fire safety requirements include installation of sprinklers in all high-rise buildings; the establishment of fire resistance standards for fire doors, building materials, and particular types of construction; and the clearance of debris and vegetation within a prescribed distance from occupied structures in wildfire hazard areas.

Office of Emergency Services. The State of California passed legislation authorizing the Office of Emergency Services to prepare a Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) program, which 3 State of California. 2007. Office of Public School Construction, School Facility Program Handbook, April. 4 Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD). 2022a. Adjustment in Developer Fees. Effective July 6, 2022. Website: https://www.svusd.org/uploaded/SVUSD_Department_Files/Facilities/Developer_Fee/ Developer_ Fees_Level_1_Notification_Memo_Levied_June_6,_2022_ADA.pdf (accessed October 19, 2022).

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4.8.4.3 Regional Regulations
There are no regional policies or regulations applicable to public services for the proposed Project.

4.8.4.4 Local Regulations
City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code. The City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code includes the following requirements that would apply to the proposed Project related to the provision of public services:
• Chapter 10.12 adopts the 2022 CFC.
• Chapter 10.08 adopts the 2022 CBC.
• Section 12.12.210 discusses the requirements for subdivisions in high or extremely high hazard areas including providing appropriate fire protection by means of fire breaks, fuel modification programs, access roads, sufficient water supply, landscaping, and open spaces. • Chapter 11.06 adopts the Local Park Code pursuant to Government Code Section 66477 to set rules for construction, uses for land and fees, and identify the general purposes and objectives of parks in the City.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Safety Element. The primary purpose of the Safety Element is to identify priority public safety issues in Laguna Woods and set forth long-range City policies and programs to protect people and properties from harm resulting from natural and human-caused hazards and criminal activity. The following policies are relevant to public services:
• Policy S-1.3: Provide the highest level of fire services as are available and fiscally feasible. • Policy S-5.3: Increase and maintain the security, reliability, continuity, and functionality of critical City facilities.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Open Space Element. The Open Space Element provides for maintenance of lands for scenic beauty and wildlife habitat. The Open Space Element contains policies and programs that provide guidance that allows the City to meet the open space and recreation needs of the community. The following policies are relevant to public services:
• Objective I: Provide access to recreational opportunities for the unique population of the City of Laguna Woods.

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4.8.5 Thresholds of Significance
The thresholds for public services impacts used in this analysis are consistent with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to public services if it would:

Threshold 4.8.1(i): Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for fire protection.

Threshold 4.8.1(ii): Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for police protection.

Threshold 4.8.1(iii): Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for schools.

Threshold 4.8.1(iv): Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for parks.

Threshold 4.8.1(v): Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for other public facilities.

4.8.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.8.1(i): Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for fire protection?

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» 4.8-9 Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project includes the adoption of residential zoning overlays that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. The proposed Project also includes administrative changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses that are intended to ensure the land use designations and zoning reflect existing conditions. As such, these minor administrative changes would not impact the provision of any public services.

The City’s housing needs allocation for the planning period between October 2021 and October 2029 was established by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) at 997 units.

The zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units on the Potential Housing Sites. According to the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS), the average household size in structures that have 50 or more housing units (the highest housing density type evaluated in the AHS) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 1.99 persons. Because most of the proposed zoning overlays would allow for higher density housing, 1.99 persons per household was deemed appropriate for use in the analysis contained in this PEIR. Therefore, the additional 1,196 housing units that would potentially be built in the City would result in an increase in 2,382 residents. The 2022 OCFA Adopted Budget states that it served a population of 1,891,414 in 2021 and it had 1,151 authorized firefighter positions. The addition of 2,382 residents would increase the population served to 1,893,796. The ratio of firefighters per 10,000 residents would therefore decrease from

6.09 firefighters per 10,000 residents to 6.08 firefighters per 10,000 residents. This decrease in number of firefighters to 10,000 residents is negligible, and would not impact OCFA’s ability to serve the City.

Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to all OCFA requirements, including providing adequate fire flow/structure protection to the future development sites and providing adequate access for emergency vehicles.

Any future development projects would be required to obtain City approval of building plans prior to issuance of building permits and would be required to demonstrate during the development review process that fire service providers would be able to provide adequate fire protection through building design requirements and access. Additionally, each of the Potential Housing Sites are surrounded by existing development and would replace existing non-residential land uses; therefore, the Potential Housing Sites are located in areas of the City already served by OCFA. The City proposes to update its General Plan Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements and rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element in order for the individual elements of the General Plan to be internally consistent. The proposed Project includes text changes in the Land Use Element.

These text changes are necessary to provide internal consistency between General Plan elements and would not facilitate or entitle any physical development. The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Noise Element to update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development.

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4.8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» -10 The Project includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built-out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network. Thus, any population growth associated with the Project that would lead to potential strains on public services would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it; impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Threshold 4.8.1(ii): Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for police protection?
Less Than Significant Impact. The City contracts with the OCSD for law enforcement services. The OCSD’s Southwest Operations Division provides law enforcement services to the City. The development of new housing on the Potential Housing Sites may result in an incremental increase in law enforcement calls within the City; however, such calls would be generally consistent with the types of calls the OCSD responds to at similar residential developments in the City. Additionally, each of the Potential Housing Sites is surrounded by existing development and therefore located in areas of the City that are already patrolled by the OCSD. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to all applicable policies and codes related to the provision of police services. Additionally, any new housing units built within the residential zoning overlays would replace existing land uses already receiving services from OCSD.

The City proposes to update its General Plan Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements and rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element in order for the individual elements of the General Plan to be internally consistent. The proposed Project includes text changes in the Land Use Element. These text changes are necessary to provide internal consistency between General Plan elements and would not facilitate or entitle any physical development. The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Noise Element to update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development.

The Project includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» 4.8-11 “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built-out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network. Thus, any population growth associated with the Project that would lead to potential strains on public services would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it; impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Threshold 4.8.1(iii): Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for schools?
Less Than Significant Impact. As indicated above, the provision of education and school facilities in Laguna Woods is the responsibility of the SVUSD, LBUSD, and CUSD. Because all of the Potential Housing Sites are located within the SVUSD, analysis regarding student generation will only consider the SVUSD and not the LBUSD or CUSD. The SVUSD has a capacity of 30,598 students as of the 2021–2022 school year and includes all or part of Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita (SVUSD 2022b).

The demand for public school facilities is driven by residential land use. Because the proposed Project includes the adoption of residential zoning overlays that may indirectly lead to an increase in growth and population, the Project could potentially create a demand on public school facilities. As described above, construction of the 1,196 potential housing units that would be accommodated by the zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would result in approximately 2,382 additional residents. As shown in Table 4.8.B below, the proposed Project has the potential to generate 257 elementary school students, 74 intermediate school students, and 149 high school students. Based on the SVUSD’s available enrollment capacity, the development of 1,196 housing units on the Potential Housing Sites in Laguna Woods would not result in the need to construct new school facilities.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 17620, the governing board of SVUSD is authorized to levy a fee, charge, dedication, or other requirement against the proposed Project, which lies within the boundaries of the SVUSD, for the purpose of funding the construction or reconstruction of school facilities to accommodate future student enrollment. Therefore, with payment of these school impact fees, impacts related to student generation and the potential need for additional school facilities would be less than significant, and no mitigation is required.

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4.8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» -12 Table 4.8.B: Student Generation and SVUSD Capacity
School Level
Student Generation
Factor (per Housing
Unit)1
Estimated ProjectRelated Student
Generation
Available
Enrollment
Capacity2
Capacity
Available?
Elementary School 0.2150 257 2,627 Yes
Intermediate School 0.0634 76 1,410 Yes
High School 0.1127 135 2,313 Yes
Total 0.3911 468 6,350 1 Source: Residential and Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study. Table 14 - Student Generation Factors. (SVUSD 2022b). 2 Source: Residential and Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study. Table 1 – Existing School Facilities Capacity and Student Enrollment.

SVUSD = Saddleback Valley Unified School District
The proposed Project also includes land use designation and zoning changes on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. Inasmuch as these minor administrative changes are intended to ensure that the land use designations and zoning reflect existing conditions, they would not impact the provision of any public services.

The City proposes to update its General Plan Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements and rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element in order for the individual elements of the General Plan to be internally consistent. The proposed Project includes text changes in the Land Use Element. These text changes are necessary to provide internal consistency between General Plan elements and would not facilitate or entitle any physical development. The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Noise Element to update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development.

The Project also includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element.

The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built-out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network. Therefore, the proposed Project would have a less than significant impact related to demand for school facilities. No mitigation is required.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» 4.8-13 Threshold 4.8.1(iv): Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for parks?
Less Than Significant Impact. The City determines the need for park space based on its population.

Chapter 11.06 of the City’s Municipal Code establishes a standard of 2.5 acres of land per 1,000 residents for park and recreational purposes. As of the time this PEIR was prepared, the City currently has a parkland-to-resident ratio of 12.9 acres for each 1,000 residents, which is well in excess of its adopted standard. As described above, the proposed residential zoning overlays would allow for the future development of up to 1,196 housing units on the Potential Housing Sites, potentially resulting in approximately 2,382 additional residents. Even with the addition of 2,382 new residents, the City would have sufficient park resources to meet its adopted standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents. Therefore, the proposed Project would not require the construction or expansion of any parks or recreational facilities.

Text changes to the Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, as well as the renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to parks. The minor administrative changes in the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, those zoning and land use designation changes would not result in additional population, alter existing parks, or require the construction or expansion of parks. The proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to parks. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.8.1(v): Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for other public facilities?
Less Than Significant Impact. Other public facilities in the City include the Laguna Woods Branch of the OC Public Library. As indicated above, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. The zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units. As discussed in Section 4.13, Population and Housing, the RHNA for the City accounts for 997 additional housing units, and the proposed zoning overlays would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units, which is estimated to result in an increase of 2,382 residents. Because the proposed Project includes General Plan and zoning updates that may indirectly lead to an increase in growth and population, the Project could potentially create a demand on public library facilities within Laguna Woods or Orange County. Any future projects

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4.8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.8 Public Services.docx «05/06/24» -14 implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations. Additionally, according to Section 11.04.010 of the City’s Municipal Code, payment of fees would be required by developers to offset impacts to public services and City infrastructure created by the proposed Project. Ultimately, as part of the development review process, all future projects would be required to demonstrate during the development review process that service providers would ensure adequate public services. The minor administrative changes in the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, those zoning and land use designation changes would not impact the provision of any public services.

The City proposes to update its General Plan Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements and rename the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element in order for the individual elements of the General Plan to be internally consistent. The proposed Project includes text changes in the Land Use Element. These text changes are necessary to provide internal consistency between General Plan elements and would not facilitate or entitle any physical development. The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Noise Element to update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development.

The Project also includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element.

The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built-out and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network. Additionally, the Potential Housing Sites are located in existing urbanized locations with existing land uses that are already receiving public services. Redevelopment of existing land uses reduces the net impact to public services to a less than significant level. Thus, any population growth associated with the Project that would lead to potential strains on public services would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it; impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

4.8.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to public services.

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4.8.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to public services.

4.8.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. The impact area used to assess potential cumulative population and housing impacts is the City of Laguna Woods because the proposed Project would affect public services within Laguna Woods. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would only consider impacts from implementation of the proposed Project that would contribute to population and housing growth leading to an impact on public services in the Project vicinity.

The proposed Project would result in a negligible difference in the ratio of firefighters per 10,000 residents from the existing conditions, would not propose any new development that would require a substantial increase in police presence, and would also adhere to all applicable policies and codes related to the provision of firefighting and police services including OCFA requirements related to providing adequate fire flow/structure protection to the future development sites and providing adequate access for emergency vehicles. Although the City has adopted a standard of 2.5 acres of land per 1,000 residents for park and recreational purposes, the City currently has a parkland-toresident ratio of 12.9 acres for each 1,000 residents and is no longer collecting parkland dedication fees. Even with the addition of 2,382 new residents, the City would have sufficient park resources to meet its adopted standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents.

Therefore, the proposed Project would not require the construction or expansion of any parks or recreational facilities. The potential development of 1,196 housing units is accounted for in the SVUSD projections for future housing development within the SVUSD. Any population growth associated with the Project that would lead to potential strains on public services would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it. As discussed above, the minor administrative changes in the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, those zoning and land use designation changes would not impact the provision of any public services. Therefore, the impacts from the proposed Project are not considered to be cumulatively considerable.

4.8.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to public services, and mitigation measures are not required.

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4.9 RECREATION

4.9.1 Introduction
This section describes the parks and other recreational facilities in the City of Laguna Woods (City) and evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Update (proposed Project) on those facilities. This section also discusses the existing setting of recreational facilities within and near Laguna Woods and sets forth the relevant regulatory requirements that apply to the analysis of the proposed Project’s impact on recreational facilities. This section is based, in part, on information provided in the Open Space Element of the City of Laguna Woods General Plan and applicable provisions of the City’s Municipal Code.

4.9.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). One comment letter included a comment related to Recreation.

The letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) (August 30, 2022) recommended that open space be maximized when planning for future housing projects.

4.9.2 Methodology
Recreation impacts are assessed based on the physical effects of the proposed Project on existing recreational facilities in the area. Specifically, impacts on recreational facilities are assessed based on the potential for the proposed Project to generate increased demand on recreational facilities that could result in deterioration of, or contribute toward substantial accelerated deterioration of, those facilities or require the construction of new facilities or expansion of existing facilities that could have an adverse physical effect on the environment. For the purposes of this analysis, “recreational facilities” are defined as parks and designated public areas used for active or passive recreation. The City’s Municipal Code contains requirements for the dedication of land or the payment of in-lieu fees for recreational purposes in connection with residential development projects, based on a standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents.

The City was nearly built out at the time of its incorporation in 1999. Prior to incorporation, development proceeded pursuant to the County’s Rossmoor Leisure World Planned Community zoning designation. Recreational facilities were developed for the exclusive use of residents within the Leisure World (now Laguna Woods Village) gated community. The vast majority of dwelling units in the City are located inside the Laguna Woods Village gates. Future residents of any housing units built on the Potential Housing Sites would be located outside Laguna Woods Village. As such, those future residents would not have access to the private recreational facilities located within Laguna Woods Village. Consequently, the analysis in this chapter will focus on those recreational and open space features within the City which are outside of Laguna Woods Village.

4.9.3 Existing Environmental Setting
The City is bounded on the northwest by Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and State Route 133 (SR-133) and on the northeast by Interstate 5 (I-5). State Route 73 (SR-73) is near the City’s southern boundary. Additionally, the City is bordered on the north and southeast by the City of Laguna Hills,

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4.9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.9 Recreation.docx «05/06/24» -2 the City of Aliso Viejo on the south, the City of Laguna Beach and unincorporated Orange County on the west, and the City of Irvine on the northwest.

4.9.3.1 Existing Recreational and Open Space Facilities within the City The City provides recreational opportunities outside of the Laguna Woods Village gated community, which houses a majority of its residents. Table 4.9.A, below, provides an inventory of the City’s public recreation and non-public owned open space resources.

Table 4.9.A: Existing Public Recreational/Open Space Facilities in Laguna Woods
Local Open Space for Recreational/Resource Preservation Southern California Edison Right-of-Way 45
Woods End Wilderness Preserve (Public Park) 10
Laguna Laurel Property 171
City Centre Park (Public Park) 0.54
Source: City of Laguna Woods. 2007. General Plan Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflaguna woods.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed September 21, 2022).

Public parks within the City include a 12,000-square-foot dog park which was developed after the City became incorporated. The dog park, however, is located on a portion of the right-of-way reserved for a potential future widening of Ridge Route Drive and, therefore, cannot be considered permanent open space.

City Centre Park, which is located along Moulton Parkway just north of El Toro Road, includes a walking trail, picnic tables, and small gathering spaces. The 178-acre Laguna Laurel property in the northwest corner of the City serves as an important open space resource. Laguna Laurel is owned by the Irvine Company and is subject to an irrevocable open space easement that was granted to The Nature Conservancy in 2001.

Woods End Wilderness Preserve is a 10.6-acre public park in the southwest corner of the City.

Woods End acts as a trailhead to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park with a pedestrian and cycling trail winding through coastal sage scrub habitat.

The Southern California Edison (SCE) right-of-way easement area borders Woods End Wilderness Preserve and extends for 1.1 mile along the southwestern edge of Laguna Woods. The SCE easement area is located generally east of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Figure 4.9-1 provides the locations of the City’s existing public parks and recreation facilities.

Service Layer Credits:

LAGUNA HILLS DR

EL TORO RD

EL TORO RD
M
O

ULTON PKWY

RIDGE ROUTE DR

SANTA MARIAAV

MOULTON PKWY
5 AVENIDA SEVILLA

AVENIDA MAJORCA

AVENIDA SOSIEGA

ALISO CREEK RD

GLENWOOD DR

MUIRLANDS BLVD

VIA CARRIZO

CALLE ARAGON

LOS ALISOS BLVD

EL TORO RD
Laguna Laurel
Property
SCE Right of Way
Easement Area
Laguna Woods
Dog Park
City Centre
Park
Aliso & Wood
Canyons
Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast
Wilderness Park
Woods End
Wilderness
Preserve
23 25
22 20
21 27
26 28
19 24
18 29
11 1
10 2 13
14 12
16 3
5 6
7 9
4 8
15 17
LEGEND
City of Laguna Woods
Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation
Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses
Potential Housing Sites
Recreation Areas
Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Woods End Wilderness Preserve
City Centre Park
Laguna Laurel Property
Laguna Woods Dog Park
SCE Right of Way Easement Area
SOURCE: Google Maps (2021); City of Laguna Woods (2022) I:\LWD2102.03\GIS\MXD\EIR\ExistingParksandRec.mxd (4/14/2023) FIGURE 4.9.1
Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update
Existing Public Parks and Recreation Facilities
0 750 1500
FEET

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4.9.3.2 Existing Regional Recreational Opportunities
Regional public park facilities serving the City include Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, which adjoins the westerly boundary of the City and encompasses the City’s Woods End Wilderness Preserve.

Hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding trails traverse the park which is itself a portion of the Laguna Greenbelt that extends through the San Joaquin Hills along Laguna Canyon Road.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park is located south of the City. This large open space reserve extends south to Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach. Trails provide access through the park to other regional recreational facilities.

4.9.4 Regulatory Setting

4.9.4.1 Federal Regulations
Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (42 United States Code [USC] 12181) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public accommodation and State and local government services. Under the ADA, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board issues guidelines to ensure that facilities, public sidewalks, and street crossings are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Play areas, meeting rooms, park restrooms, and other buildings and park structures must comply with ADA requirements. Any public park facilities that would be developed as part of the proposed Project would be required to be ADA compliant.

4.9.4.2 State Regulations
Quimby Act of 1975. The Quimby Act (California Government Code Section 66477) allows the legislative body of a city or county to require by ordinance the dedication of land, the payment of an in-lieu park fee, or a combination thereof for the approval for a final tract or parcel map. In cases where such a dedication or park fee is not obtained through a map, it may be imposed when building permits are issued. The following conditions must be met to comply with the Quimby Act:
• The city or county ordinance must include definitive standards for determining the proportion of a subdivision to be dedicated and the amount of any fee to be paid in lieu thereof. • The legislative body must adopt a general plan containing a recreation element, and any proposed park or recreational facility must be consistent with the principles and standards established in the element.

Although the City has adopted a parkland dedication ordinance pursuant to the Quimby Act, as described in the City’s General Plan Housing Element, the City no longer collects parkland dedication fees as it currently has 226.54 of public open space and parkland for its approximately 17,500 residents (approximately 12.9 acres of park and recreational land per 1,000 residents), which is well in excess of the City’s own adopted standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents.

4.9.4.3 Local Regulations
City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code. The following sections of Chapter 11.06, Local Park Code, of the City’s Municipal Code are applicable to the proposed Project:

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4.9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.9 Recreation.docx «05/06/24» -6 • Section 11.06.160, Amount of Parkland Required, describes the amount of parkland to be provided according to the number of proposed dwelling units. • Section 11.06.170, Amount of Park Fees Required, establishes that the amount of park fees that needs to be paid for instances where the payment of park fees is necessary. • Section 11.06.190, Amount of Parkland and Park Fees Combined, describes the computations for instances where both the provision of parkland and payment of park fees are required. • Section 11.06.210, Parkland Requirements, describes the requirements and conditions for compliance that must be met for any person that intends to provide parkland. • Section 11.06.220, Park Fee Procedures, establishes the procedures for establishing the amount that must be paid for a park fee.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Open Space. The Open Space Element of the City’s General Plan describes existing park and recreational facilities within Laguna Woods, summarizes issues, opportunities, and constraints that the City faces in providing adequate recreational facilities to its residents, and provides objectives, policies, and implementation measures that can be used to orient the City’s actions to enhance open space and recreational opportunities in the City.

The following objectives and policies in the Open Space Element apply to the proposed Project:
• Objective 1: Provide access to recreational opportunities for the unique population of the City of Laguna Woods.
• Objective II: Include recreation and open space needs of the community in planning for development of currently undeveloped properties.

4.9.5 Thresholds of Significance
The thresholds for recreation impacts used in this analysis are consistent with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to recreation if it would do the following:

Threshold 4.9.1: Increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated.

Threshold 4.9.2: Include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment.

4.9.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.9.1: Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated?

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.9 Recreation.docx «05/06/24» 4.9-7 Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project includes proposed zoning overlays that would allow for housing development to occur on the Potential Housing Sites. Although the proposed zoning overlays would not directly result in physical development, it would make possible new residential development that could potentially lead to impacts to existing parks or recreational facilities. Any future projects that are implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to the General Plan, the City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code, and all applicable development regulations pertaining to the capacity of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities. The changes to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. The land use designation changes and rezoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses would not result in additional population or alter existing recreational uses.

The zoning overlays that are proposed as a part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units on the Potential Housing Sites. According to the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS), the average household size in structures that have 50 or more housing units (the highest housing density type evaluated in the AHS) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 1.99 persons. Because most of the proposed zoning overlays would allow for higher density housing, 1.99 persons per household was deemed appropriate for use in the analysis contained in this PEIR. Therefore, the additional 1,196 housing units that would potentially be built in the City are estimated to result in an increase in 2,380 residents. Chapter 11.06 of the City’s Municipal Code establishes a standard of 2.5 acres of land per 1,000 residents for park and recreational purposes. Therefore, to accommodate for the demand for new park space for these 2,380 residents, 5.95 additional acres of parks and recreation land would be necessary to meet the requirements set forth in Chapter 11.06 of the City’s Municipal Code.

Laguna Woods began as a retirement community with the development of Leisure World (now known as Laguna Woods Village) in the 1960s. The City is unique in that nearly all of its existing residential uses are age-restricted for adults aged 55 years and older. Of the 13,386 dwelling units in the City of Laguna Woods, 12,736 are located in the gated community of Laguna Woods Village, which represents 80 percent of the City’s total land area. Four other residential communities (Ivy Park at Laguna Woods [formerly The Regency], Ivy Park at Wellington [formerly Las Palmas], San Sebastian, and Whispering Fountains) provide an additional 650 dwelling units in the City. Ivy Park at Laguna Woods and Ivy Park at Wellington are assisted living facilities which generate minimal recreational demand. San Sebastian, a 55-plus senior living apartment complex, includes a swimming pool and numerous outdoor spaces that meet the recreational needs of residents.

Whispering Fountains is also a senior living apartment complex with access to a landscaped courtyard.

The vast majority of city residents reside within Laguna Woods Village. The recreational facilities in Laguna Woods Village are private and for the use of Laguna Woods Village residents. The private recreational facilities are abundant including multiple clubhouses with swimming pools, golf courses, tennis center, equestrian center, garden center and extensive pedestrian network.

Removing Laguna Woods Village from the parkland dedication requirement due to village recreational amenities fulfilling resident recreational needs equates to 650 units (the majority

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4.9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.9 Recreation.docx «05/06/24» -8 assisted living) or 1,293 residents (1.99 residents per unit) resulting in a 3.23-acre park requirement.

Assuming 1.99 residents per unit for assisted living or senior living facilities is a conservative estimate given that many units are single occupant.

The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Circulation, Noise, and Land Use Elements to update the noise contour maps and provide internal consistency between General Plan Elements.

The Project includes renaming the General Plan Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors.

The Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements updates, and the renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, would not result in changes to the physical environment nor result in impacts to recreation resources. The provision of additional housing units would result in additional demands on existing recreational resources. However, as discussed above, existing public park and recreational facilities would not be adversely impacted or be substantially degraded by the Project’s additional residents, and impacts related to recreation resources would be less than significant. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.9.2: Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment?
Less Than Significant Impact. As discussed above, Chapter 11.06 of the City’s Municipal Code establishes a standard of 2.5 acres of land per 1,000 residents for park and recreational purposes; however, the City currently has 10.54 acres of city owned parkland outside of Laguna Woods Village providing a parkland-to-resident ratio of 8.1 acres for each 1,000 residents (residents outside of Laguna Woods Village) and is no longer collecting parkland dedication fees under its Quimby Act ordinance. Even with the addition of 2,382 new residents, the City would have sufficient park resources to meet its adopted standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents. Therefore, the proposed Project would not require the construction or expansion of any parks or recreational facilities. Text changes to the Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, and renaming the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to recreation. The minor administrative changes in the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, those zoning and land use designation changes would not result in additional population, alter existing recreational uses, or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities.

The proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts to recreational facilities. No mitigation is required.

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4.9.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to recreation.

4.9.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to recreation.

4.9.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. The impact area used to assess potential cumulative recreational impacts is Laguna Woods because the proposed Project would affect recreational facilities within Laguna Woods. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would only consider impacts from implementation of the proposed Project which would not contribute to recreational impacts in the Project vicinity. As discussed above, the minor administrative changes in the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and would continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, those zoning and land use designation changes would not result in any cumulative impacts to recreational facilities.

Although Chapter 11.06 of the City’s Municipal Code establishes a standard of 2.5 acres of land per 1,000 residents for park and recreational purposes, the City currently has a parkland-to-resident ratio of 8.1 acres for each 1,000 residents (outside of Laguna Woods Village) and is no longer collecting parkland dedication fees under its Quimby Act ordinance. Even with the addition of 2,382 new residents, the City would have sufficient park resources to meet its adopted standard of 2.5 acres of park and recreational land for each 1,000 residents. Therefore, the proposed Project would not require the construction or expansion of any parks or recreational facilities, and impacts from the proposed Project would not be considered cumulatively considerable.

4.9.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
No mitigation is required. The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to recreation.

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4.10 TRANSPORTATION

4.10.1 Introduction
This section analyzes the scoping process, the methodology, and findings of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis for the City of Laguna Woods’ (City) General Plan and Zoning Code Update Project (Project).

4.10.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). Three comment letters included comments related to Transportation.

The comment letter from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 12, dated August 30, 2022, addressed several topics. Caltrans identified support for projects which provide a diversity of housing choices and destinations accessible by active transportation (i.e., bicycle and pedestrian) and transit users. Caltrans noted that increased density can result in traffic impacts and suggested that the City consider encouraging multimodal transportation and mode shifts through the planning and implementation of high-quality Complete Streets that are safe and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Caltrans suggested consideration of a discussion about wayfinding signage to transit stops within the project vicinity and local roadways. Safety was identified as one of Caltrans’ strategic goals. Caltrans encourages the implementation of new technologies, innovations, and best practices that will enhance safety on the transportation network. Caltrans requested consideration of a discussion on potential impacts to the Circulation Element from freight traveling into, from, and/or through the City, as a result of the General Plan updates. Caltrans emphasized that new development resulting from the City’s Housing Element update should provide a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) based Traffic Impact Study (TIS).

The comment letter from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), dated August 29, 2022, requested that OCTA be kept apprised of the Project and requested continued coordination with OCTA to maintain consistency between the Circulation Element and the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways.

The comment letter from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), dated August 15, 2022, emphasized that pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 375, SCAG is the designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency under State law and is responsible for preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) including the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). SCAG’s feedback is intended to assist local jurisdictions and project proponents to implement projects that have the potential to contribute to attainment of Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) goals and align with RTP/SCS policies. Finally, SCAG is the authorized regional agency for Intergovernmental Review (IGR) of programs proposed for federal financial assistance and direct federal development activities, pursuant to Presidential Executive Order 12372. The SCAG letter acknowledged the Project’s purpose and requested that the PEIR be shared with SCAG when it is ready for public review. SCAG suggested that the PEIR evaluate the proposed Project’s consistency with relevant goals in the RTP/SCS and provided a list of the RTP/SCS goals for the City’s consideration. SCAG also provided the long-term population, household, and employment growth forecasts for the City and the entire SCAG region from 2020 through 2045 and recommended that

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -2 the City review the Final Program EIR prepared for the 2020 RTP/SCS to determine if any of the project-level mitigation measures included in that document should be incorporated into this PEIR.

Lastly, SCAG identified the City’s 6th Cycle Final Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation and shared a link to a web-mapping tool developed by SCAG to help cities and stakeholders understand local land use, site opportunities, and environmental sensitivities.

4.10.2 Methodology
On December 28, 2018, the California Office of Administrative Law cleared the revised State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for use. Among the changes to the guidelines was removal of vehicle delay and level of service analysis from consideration under CEQA. With the adopted guidelines, transportation impacts are now to be evaluated based on project-generated VMT.

The City has not adopted specific SB 743 guidelines and therefore, this VMT analysis was conducted using the methodologies and significance threshold criteria identified in the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research’s (OPR) Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA (Technical Advisory), dated December 2018. Given that the proposed Project involves a General Plan update and updates to the City’s Zoning Code, it can be considered a land use plan. For land use plans, the OPR Technical Advisory recommends comparison of Project VMT per capita or VMT per employee under the forecasted/cumulative scenario to the corresponding base year VMT per capita/employee to determine the Project impacts. If the forecasted VMT per capita/employee is greater than 85 percent of the existing regional VMT per capita/employee, then the Project would result in a significant impact.

Per the OPR Technical Advisory, a region should be defined based on where the majority of a project’s trips are contained. As such, a majority of the project trips are estimated to start or end within the region defined for VMT analysis purposes. Typically, it is the county boundary within which the majority of those trips are contained. While the city boundary can also be considered as the region, based on the understanding of the local trip patterns in the area, which often cross over the boundaries of several cities in Orange County, the County is considered as the region for this VMT analysis. Therefore, if the forecasted citywide VMT per capita with inclusion of the proposed zoning overlays is greater than 85 percent of the existing countywide VMT per capita, the Project would result in a significant VMT impact.

The OPR Technical Advisory provides multiple screening criteria for land use projects. One of the screening criteria is a daily trip threshold. If a land use project generates less than 110 daily trips, it can be screened from a detailed VMT analysis. The proposed Project includes converting the existing uses on the Potential Housing Sites and replacing them with residential land uses. A trip generation analysis was conducted that looked at the differences in daily and peak hour trips between the existing and proposed land uses. That analysis is provided in Appendix C (City of Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update-Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis memorandum [LSA, October 25, 2022]). It was observed that while the proposed residential land uses would produce lower peakhour trips than the existing land uses on the Potential Housing Sites, the Project would generate 746 more daily trips than the existing uses. As this would exceed the threshold of 110 daily trips, it was concluded that a detailed VMT analysis would be required to evaluate the Project’s VMT impacts.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» 4.10-3 The Orange County Transportation Analysis Model (OCTAM) was used to determine the Project’s VMT impacts. The proposed Project includes the adoption of zoning overlays on the Potential Housing Sites. Fifteen of the Potential Housing Sites include existing non-residential land uses on them, one site is vacant and one site is an existing parking lot.

For the Potential Housing Sites, the analysis assumes that the Project would remove the existing non-residential uses and replace them with residential uses. All 17 of the Potential Housing Sites are contained within four Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) in OCTAM. The updates to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses are being proposed to ensure that the land use designations and zoning accurately reflect the existing uses on those properties and would not result in any additional traffic generation.

As the Project consists of modifications to the existing General Plan, a cursory review of current OCTAM forecasted data was conducted to verify the consistency of the model with the General Plan land uses. As OCTAM is a socioeconomic data-based model, in order to review the consistency, the General Plan land uses needed conversion to socioeconomic data (households and employment).

The General Plan residential uses included density ranges whereas non-residential uses consisted of building square footage as development intensities. Average residential densities along with the residential acreage were used to convert the residential land uses into dwelling unit estimates.

Similarly, general rule of thumb conversion factors were used to convert non-residential development intensities to employees.

The resulting household and total employment estimates were compared to the current OCTAM forecasted assumptions. While the dwelling unit/household estimates from the General Plan matched closely with current OCTAM forecasted data, the employment estimates varied significantly. Given the use of average densities for residential and general conversion factors for non-residential uses, a close match between General Plan land uses and OCTAM forecasted data was not expected.

In addition to the forecasted dataset, a review of model base year dataset and growth (forecast – base) was performed. It was observed that the model assumptions included minimal growth of households and employment for the City. Given the amount of growth assumed in the model, consistency of household estimates between the General Plan and the model, and use of generic assumptions to convert General Plan land uses to socioeconomic data, it was concluded that the forecasted OCTAM assumptions are consistent with the existing City General Plan.

4.10.3 Existing Environmental Setting
Laguna Woods began as a retirement community with the development of Leisure World (now known as Laguna Woods Village) in the 1960s. The City is unique in that nearly all of its existing residential uses are age-restricted for adults aged 55 years and older. Of the 13,386 dwelling units in the City of Laguna Woods, 12,736 are located in the gated community of Laguna Woods Village, which represents 80 percent of the City’s total land area. Four other residential communities (Ivy Park at Laguna Woods [formerly The Regency], Ivy Park at Wellington [formerly Las Palmas], San Sebastian, and Whispering Fountains) provide an additional 650 dwelling units in the City.

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -4 The majority of the City’s commercial and institutional uses are situated along El Toro Road and Moulton Parkway within 0.4 mile of their intersection. Two smaller retail nodes are located at the El Toro Road and Paseo de Valencia intersection and at the Moulton Parkway and Ridge Route Drive intersection. The City is now almost completely built out and contains very limited undeveloped land.

4.10.3.1 Existing Transportation Network
The City’s street system is complete, with little, if any, ability to provide additional capacity. Future growth in traffic volumes on the City’s arterial roadways will be largely due to growth in other cities and throughout the region. With the exception of certain intersection improvements, building new roads or expanding existing roads is not feasible.

4.10.4 Regulatory Setting

4.10.4.1 Federal Regulations
No federal policies or regulations pertaining to transportation are applicable to the proposed Project.

4.10.4.2 State Regulations
Senate Bill 743. On September 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 743 into law and started a process that changes the methodology of a transportation impact analysis as part of CEQA requirements. SB 743 directed the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to establish new CEQA guidance for jurisdictions that removes the level of service (LOS) method, which focuses on automobile vehicle delay and other similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion, from CEQA transportation analysis. Rather, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), or other measures that promote “the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses,” are now be used as the basis for determining significant transportation impacts in the State.

State CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, Subdivision (b). In January 2018, the California OPR submitted a proposal for comprehensive updates to the State CEQA Guidelines to the California Natural Resources Agency. The submittal included proposed updates related to the analysis of GHG emissions, energy, transportation impacts pursuant to SB 743, and wildfires, as well as revisions to Section 15126.2(a) in response to the California Supreme Court’s decision in California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) 62 Cal. 4th 369. On December 28, 2018, the updated State CEQA Guidelines went into effect.

As part of the update to the State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15064.3 was added and codifies that project-related transportation impacts are typically best measured by evaluating the project’s VMT.

Specifically, subdivision (b) focuses on specific criteria related to transportation analysis and is divided into four subdivisions: (1) land use projects, (2) transportation projects, (3), qualitative analysis, and (4) methodology. Subdivision (b)(1) provides guidance on determining the significance of transportation impacts of land use projects using VMT; projects located within 0.5 mile of high quality transit should be considered to have a less than significant impact. Subdivision (b)(2) addresses VMT associated with transportation projects and states that projects that reduce VMT,

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» 4.10-5 such as pedestrian, bicycle, and transit projects, should be presumed to have a less than significant impact. Subdivision (b)(3) acknowledges that Lead Agencies may not be able to quantitatively estimate VMT for every project type; in these cases, a qualitative analysis may be used. Subdivision (b)(4) stipulates that Lead Agencies have the discretion to formulate a methodology that would appropriately analyze a project’s VMT.

4.10.4.3 Regional Regulations
Orange County Congestion Management Program (CMP). The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is a multimodal transportation agency that began in 1991 with the consolidation of seven separate agencies. OCTA serves Orange County residents and travelers by providing the following: countywide bus and paratransit service; Metrolink rail service; the 91 Express Lanes; freeway, street, and road improvement projects; individual and company commuting solutions; motorist aid services; and regulation of taxi operations. State law requires that a CMP be developed, adopted, and updated biennially for every county that includes an urbanized area, and requires that it include every city and the county government within that county. As the Congestion Management Agency for Orange County, OCTA is responsible for implementing the Orange County CMP.

OCTA adopted the CMP in 1991 to reduce traffic congestion and to provide a mechanism for coordinating land use and development decisions in Orange County. Compliance with the CMP requirements ensures a city’s eligibility to compete for State gas tax funds for local transportation projects. The CMP was updated most recently in November 2019.

County of Orange Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH). The MPAH defines the arterial system in the Circulation Element of the Orange County General Plan. This system, which is the planned future roadway system in the County, incorporates several specific arterial roadway classifications.

The Circulation Elements of cities within the County are expected to be consistent with the MPAH in order to be eligible for funding improvements on MPAH roadways.

County of Orange Measure M Growth Management Program. Measure M, approved in 1990 by the voters in the County, authorized the collection of a one-half percent sales tax to fund needed transportation improvements in the County. In order to be eligible to receive funds, cities must satisfy a number of requirements, including adopting a Circulation Element that is consistent with the County’s MPAH, adopting a Growth Management Plan, and adopting a seven-year capital improvement program to include transportation projects funded by Measure M.

4.10.4.4 Local Regulations
City of Laguna Woods General Plan. The City of Laguna Woods General Plan was approved by the City Council in October 2002.

The City’s General Plan is the principal land use document guiding development within the City. The City’s General Plan is a comprehensive plan that establishes goals, objectives, and policies intended to guide growth and development in the City. The General Plan also serves as a blueprint for development throughout the community and is the vehicle through which the community’s needs, desires, and aspirations are balanced. The Laguna Woods General Plan is the fundamental tool for influencing the quality of life in the City.

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -6 General Plan Circulation Element. The Circulation Element, one of the seven elements of the City of Laguna Woods General Plan, guides development of the transportation system to support existing development and planned growth in the City. The Circulation Element is required by California Law (Government Code Section 65302) and must include the general location and extent of existing and proposed thoroughfares, transportation routes, and terminals, all correlated with the Land Use Element of the General Plan. State law also requires that the Circulation Element address public utilities. The City of Laguna Woods General Plan contains a Circulation Sub-element that discusses utilities. The Circulation Element serves as a guide to community leaders for future development of improvements to the transportation system in response to community needs and future growth in the City.

Objectives, policies, and implementation measures policies in this section suggest courses of action for seizing opportunities that will move the City toward achieving objectives set forth in the Circulation Element consistent with the overall development scenario of the General Plan.

Implementation measures are specific actions to be taken to achieve objectives. They are specific, discreet steps that may be included in the City’s work programs consistent with adoption of annual municipal budgets. Implementation measures typically involve capital improvement and public services programs.
 Objective I: Improve and expand transportation options within the City and to destinations outside the City.
○ Policy I.A: Maintain and enhance an integrated vehicular circulation network to accommodate local needs and land uses.
○ Policy I.B:
■ Develop strong working relationships with management and staff of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Leisure World Transportation, South County Senior Services, and other appropriate agencies to highlight the transit needs of City of Laguna Woods residents, including the special needs of seniors, and to enhance and coordinate transit services in the City. ○ Policy I.C: Coordinate the efforts of all transit service providers to plan for and implement a package of improved services for residents and workers. ○ Policy I.D: Explore opportunities to contract for new transit services based upon the needs of the community.
 Objective II: Provide innovative alternatives for maintaining independence and mobility of residents.
○ Policy II.A: Consider implementation of local demand response and shuttle service. ○ Policy II.B: Help residents understand transit services and options.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» 4.10-7  Objective III: Maintain and improve existing circulation infrastructure. ○ Policy III.A: Provide and maintain a bicycle circulation system that connects to adjacent jurisdictions consistent with the regional bicycle network. ○ Policy III.B: Accommodate the unique needs of residents in the design and construction of pedestrian facilities.
○ Policy III.C: Maintain and enhance infrastructure to promote alternative vehicle access where feasible.
 Objective IV: Identify potential impacts on the City of Laguna Woods of land use and transportation decisions of other governmental entities. ○ Policy IV.A: Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and with agencies responsible for projects affecting the City of Laguna Woods.

4.10.5 Thresholds of Significance
The thresholds for transportation impacts used in this analysis are consistent with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to transportation if it would:

Threshold 4.10.1: Conflict with a program plan, ordinance, or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Threshold 4.10.2: Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b).

Threshold 4.10.3: Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment).

Threshold 4.10.4: Result in inadequate emergency access.

4.10.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.10.1: Would the project conflict with a program plan, ordinance, or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities?
Less Than Significant Impact. A detailed VMT analysis was conducted for the Project based on the OCTAM model, using the County of Orange as the region. Based on the significance threshold criteria determined within the OPR Technical Advisory, the VMT per capita of the Project does not exceed the threshold. A secondary analysis was performed to evaluate the VMT per service population. The results also showed that the Project would not exceed the threshold based on service population. Therefore, the Project would have a less than significant transportation impact.

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -8 Additionally, compliance with the City’s Municipal Code will address transportation design and emergency access. The Mobility Element includes numerous policies and implementation measures that are aligned with the objectives and priorities identified in the comment letters from Caltrans District 12, OCTA, and SCAG. Objectives and policies provided in the Mobility Element include:
 Improve and expand transportation options within the City and to destinations outside the City, Maintain and enhance an integrated vehicular circulation network to accommodate local needs and land uses;
 Develop strong working relationships with management and staff of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Leisure World Transportation, South County Senior Services, and other appropriate agencies to highlight the transit needs of City residents, including the special needs of seniors, and to enhance and coordinate transit services in the City;  Coordinate the efforts of all transit service providers to plan for and implement a package of improved services for residents and workers;
 Explore opportunities to contract for new transit services based upon the needs of the community;
 Provide innovative alternatives for maintaining independence and mobility of residents; and  Help residents understand transit services and options. Maintain and enhance infrastructure to promote alternative vehicle access where feasible.

The City’s Circulation Element objectives, policies, and implementation measures are consistent with the plans and policies of Caltrans District 12, OCTA, and SCAG.

Threshold 4.10.2: Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b)?
Less Than Significant Impact. According to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(a), project-related transportation impacts are generally best measured by evaluating the Project’s VMT, which refers to the amount and distance of automobile travel attributable to a project.

As indicated previously, the proposed Project includes the adoption of zoning overlays that could result in the replacement of existing non-residential uses with new residential uses. 16 of the 17 Potential Housing Sites are currently developed with non-residential uses. The existing land use information on these parcels was converted to employees using the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition. The ITE Trip Generation Manual includes trip rates for different types of land uses by multiple unit types that were used to develop land use to employee conversion factors (employees per thousand square feet). Other data sources were also used for land use to employee conversion factors in case no data were available from ITE. No conversion factors were available for some types of land uses where a nominal number of employees were assumed for existing use (e.g., churches). The existing land uses were converted to employees and aggregated to the OCTAM model TAZs. Employment due to existing land uses was

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» 4.10-9 removed from the Project location TAZs and the number of dwelling units from the Project were added to the corresponding TAZs. Table 4.10.A provides the existing land uses, model TAZ IDs, and the estimated number of employees associated with each of the Potential Housing Sites.

Table 4.10.B aggregates the number of dwelling units to be added and the existing number of employees to be removed from the OCTAM model TAZs.

Table 4.10.A: Potential Housing Sites – Existing Land Uses and Employment (Estimated)
Site ID Model
TAZ Existing Use Description ITE Land Use
Land Use
Quantity
(KSF)
Total
Employees
(Estimated)
1 1448 Town Centre Vacant Lot None
(not currently
developed)

0.0 0
2 1456 Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel Parking Lot None
(currently
developed with
only a parking lot)

0.0 0
3 1456 Rossmoor Electric Retail 11.4 16
3 1456 N/A Medical Building 11.4 16
4 1456 Saddleback Golf Cars Retail 20.1 29
5 1448 Laguna Woods Self Storage Storage 92.9 5
5 1448 N/A Office 1.6 5
6 1448 Animal Hospital Animal Hospital 5.5 9
7 1447 PS Business Park Storage 81.1 5
7 1447 N/A Retail 14.0 20
7 1447 N/A Restaurant 1.2 10
8 1456 Smart Parke Retail 23.5 34
9 1451 McCormick & Son Mortuary Mortuary 7.4 5
10 1447 Lutheran Church of the Cross Church 15.6 5
11 1448 Geneva Presbyterian Church Church 46.8 5
12 1451 Saint Nicholas Catholic Church Church 43.0 5
13 1451 Temple Judea Temple 11.0 15
14 1451 Laguna Country United Methodist Church Church 32.1 5 15 1448 Medical Building in Town Centre Medical Office 35.5 147 16 1451 N/A Restaurant 7.9 40
16 1451 Willow Tree Center East Retail 3.5 5
16 1451 N/A Adult Daycare 10.4 34
17 1451 Helm Center Medical Office 9.2 38
Source: LSA (2022).

KSF = thousand square feet
N/A = No description available
TAZ = Traffic Analysis Zone

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -10 Table 4.10.B: OCTAM Socioeconomic Changes by
Traffic Analysis Zone
Model TAZ Total Employment
(to remove)
Total Dwelling Units
(to add)
1447 40 205
1448 171 606
1451 146 370
1456 95 278
Source: LSA (2022).

OCTAM = Orange County Transportation Analysis Model
TAZ = Traffic Analysis Zone
OCTAM does not include the capability to split/add new TAZs and given that the VMT metrics will be evaluated for the entire City (with the General Plan Update), the socioeconomic data modifications were conducted directly to the TAZs that correspond to the Potential Housing Sites.

Model Runs and Project VMT Estimation. A horizon year (2045) model run was conducted using the adjusted socioeconomic data for the Potential Housing Site TAZs (modifications from Table 4.10.B). No circulation/network modifications were identified for inclusion in the model network. The outputs from this updated model run were used to calculate the VMT per capita for the City with the proposed amendments. The detailed VMT tables are provided in Appendix C.

As indicated before, for land use plans, the OPR Technical Advisory recommends use of VMT per capita to evaluate residential land uses and VMT per employee to evaluate non-residential land uses. Since the Project would allow the development of housing units on the Potential Housing Sites, LSA estimated VMT per capita for the City with the addition of the proposed residential land uses.

Project VMT Analysis. The proposed Project would constitute a significant impact if the forecasted VMT metric for the Project is greater than 85 percent of the regional existing VMT metric. Hence the proposed Project would constitute a significant impact if the 2045 citywide VMT per capita is greater than 85 percent of the Orange County VMT per capita (threshold). As can be seen in Table 4.10.C, the citywide VMT per capita with the Project would be lower than the Orange County regional threshold.

Table 4.10.C: 2045 City of Laguna Woods VMT Per Capita (With Project) Comparison with Regional Threshold
2045 City of Laguna
Woods
(With Project)
Existing Entire Orange
County1 Threshold2
Significant Impact
VMT per Capita 13.0 17.9 15.2 No
Source: LSA (2022).
1 Obtained from Final Draft Guidelines for Evaluating Vehicle Miles Traveled Under CEQA for the County of Orange, September 17, 2020. 2 85% of the regional average (17.9*0.85=15.2).

CEQA = California Environmental Quality Act
VMT = vehicle miles traveled

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» 4.10-11 Also, given that the Project includes the potential demolition of existing non-residential uses, LSA reviewed the effect of non-residential use removal by evaluating the efficiency metric of origindestination (OD) VMT per service population. Given that the OPR recommends use of different efficiency metrics to evaluate residential and non-residential uses, to evaluate a combined effect of both types of land uses such as with this Project, OD VMT per service population was used. Similar to VMT per capita, 2045 citywide OD VMT per service population was compared with Orange County existing VMT per service population to assess Project VMT impact. As shown in Table 4.10.D, the 2045 citywide VMT per service population would be lower than the Orange County regional threshold. Therefore, the Project would result in less than significant VMT impacts.

Table 4.10.D: 2045 City of Laguna Woods VMT Per Service Population (With Project) Comparison with Regional Threshold
2045 City of Laguna
Woods
(With Project)
Existing Entire
Orange County1 Threshold2 Significant Impact
VMT per Service Population 24.9 30.3 25.7 No
Source: LSA (2022).
1 Obtained from LSA 2016 no project OCTAM run.
2 85% of the regional average (30.3*0.85=25.7).

OCTAM = Orange County Transportation Analysis Model
VMT = vehicle miles traveled
Based on the recommendations from the OPR Technical Advisory, the proposed Project was evaluated based on VMT per capita. An assessment of the trip generation comparison between the existing and the proposed land uses did not screen the Project out from a VMT analysis. A detailed VMT analysis was conducted for the Project based on the OCTAM model, using the County of Orange as the region. Based on the significance threshold criteria determined within the OPR Technical Advisory, the VMT per capita of the Project would not exceed the threshold. A secondary analysis was performed to evaluate the VMT per service population. The results also showed that the Project would not exceed the threshold based on service population. Therefore, the Project would have a less than significant transportation impact. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.10.3: Would the project substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
No Impact. The proposed Project would not alter the existing circulation system in the City. Any improvements needed to accommodate future residential units would be analyzed during site plan review and any circulation improvements such as driveway access and intersection controls would be implemented consistent with the City’s Municipal Code. There would be no impact, and further analysis is not required.

Threshold 4.10.4: Would the project result in inadequate emergency access? No Impact. Any improvements needed to accommodate future residential units would be analyzed during site plan review, and any necessary fire or sheriff emergency access would be implemented

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4.10 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.10 Transportation.docx «05/06/24» -12 consistent with the City’s Municipal Code. There would be no impact, and further analysis is not required.

4.10.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to transportation.

Through compliance with the City’s Municipal Code, the existing circulation network would not be adversely impacted or substantially degraded by the Project’s population, VMT thresholds would not be exceeded, and impacts would be less than significant.

4.10.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to transportation.

4.10.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. The impact area used to assess potential cumulative recreational impacts is Laguna Woods because the proposed Project would affect transportation facilities within Laguna Woods. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. The 12 sites proposed for land use designation changes and rezoning will reflect existing uses and would not result in additional traffic generation. The trips from these existing uses is already part of the trip generation baseline. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would only consider impacts from the new housing development allowed by the proposed zoning overlays on the Potential Housing Sites, which would not contribute to transportation impacts in the Project vicinity.

A detailed VMT analysis was conducted for the Project based on the OCTAM model, using the County of Orange as the region. Based on the significance threshold criteria determined within the OPR Technical Advisory, the VMT per capita of the Project does not exceed the threshold. A secondary analysis was performed to evaluate the VMT per service population. The results also showed that the Project would not exceed the threshold based on service population. Therefore, the Project would have a less than significant transportation impact.

Additionally, compliance with the City’s Municipal Code will address transportation design and emergency access. Impacts from the proposed Project would not be considered cumulatively considerable.

4.10.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to transportation, and mitigation measures are not required.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-1

4.11 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS

4.11.1 Introduction
This section describes the utility providers within whose service area Laguna Woods is located and evaluates the potential impacts of the Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update (proposed Project) on utilities and service systems. This section is based on multiple data sources, including utility provider websites and adopted planning documents of utility providers, and the City of Laguna Woods’ (City) General Plan. This section addresses the following utilities (service providers are noted in parentheses):
• Electricity (Southern California Edison [SCE])
• Natural Gas (Southern California Gas Company [SoCalGas]) • Solid Waste (CR&R, Inc.)
• Wastewater and Potable Domestic Water (El Toro Water District [ETWD]) • Storm Drainage (Orange County Flood Control District [OCFCD])

4.11.1.1 Scoping Process
The City received nine comment letters during the public review period of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). For copies of the NOP comment letters, refer to Appendix A of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). None of the comment letters contained comments related to utilities and service systems.

4.11.2 Methodology
Information regarding water and wastewater generation and demand from the El Toro Water District’s (ETWD) 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) was used to describe the existing conditions and to evaluate potential impacts that would result from implementation of the proposed Project. Regulations from the City’s Municipal Code were also identified to describe the existing environmental setting. Data from the California Energy Commission (CEC) were used to describe gas and electricity consumption in Orange County (County) and by the service providers that serve the City of Laguna Woods.

4.11.3 Existing Environmental Setting

4.11.3.1 Wastewater
The ETWD owns and operates the sewer system serving the City. The ETWD provides sewer treatment to more than 48,800 residential customers per year in the Cities of Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, and Aliso Viejo. Wastewater is removed via the sanitary sewer system, which consists of approximately 158 miles of sewer lines ranging in size from 4 inches to 24 inches in diameter, and 11 sewer pumping facilities across ETWD’s 5,430-acre service area (ETWD 2022).

The ETWD is a multiservice agency responsible for providing domestic water service, sewage collection and treatment, and water recycling in southern Orange County, California. Collected wastewater from the City is pumped to the ETWD Water Recycling Plant (WRP) located in south

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -2 Orange County. The ETWD operates one treatment plant where wastewater is treated and either used for irrigation or disposed of through South Orange County Wastewater Authority’s (SOCWA) effluent transmission main and ocean outfall.

The WRP has undergone several upgrades since its construction in 1963, and it currently has a capacity of 5.54 million gallons per day (mgd) under an average flow condition, although it has the capacity to treat a maximum flow of 6 mgd to secondary effluent standards. Effluent from the WRP is treated to secondary or tertiary levels depending on the disposal method, ocean outfall, or beneficial reuse. Recycled water is treated to Title 22 standards1 with the expansion completed in 2014. Treated effluent that is not recycled is disposed of through the Aliso Creek Ocean Outfall.

About 30 percent of the ETWD’s current wastewater is recycled to be used for landscape irrigation, irrigation on the WRP grounds, and as process water at the WRP. Approximately 35 percent of ETWD’s service area lies within Laguna Woods (ETWD 2021).

4.11.3.2 Water Supply
The City is also within the ETWD’s domestic water service area. ETWD is a member agency of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), a wholesaler of imported water, which is purchased, transported, and treated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). The imported water from MWDOC fills ETWD’s 275 million gallon (mg) reservoir or directly feeds the distribution system. Water from MWDOC and/or the reservoir is fed through pressure reducing valves or via pumping stations to provide adequate system pressures at the ETWD’s service connections. The ETWD’s service area covers approximately 5,430 acres within Orange County including all of Laguna Woods and portions of Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Mission Viejo (ETWD 2021). The ETWD delivers 8,437 acre-feet (af) of potable water to residential and commercial uses annually through 9,536 connections.

The ETWD adopted the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), which provides an assessment of the present and future water supply sources and demands within the ETWD’s service area. The State requires the ETWD to update its UWMP every 5 years. The UWMP provides the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) with information on the present and future water resources and demands and provides an assessment of the ETWD’s water resource needs.

The ETWD relies on a combination of purchased or imported water, surface water, and recycled water to meet its water needs. As described in its 2020 UWMP, the ETWD’s total water supply was 8,437 af in 2020. This consisted of 4,079 af of purchased or imported water wholesaled by the MWDOC that was treated, 2,736 af of purchased or imported water wholesaled by the MWDOC that was untreated, 1,270 af of recycled water treated at the ETWD’s WRP, and 352 af of surface water (not desalinated) imported from Irvine Lake (ETWD 2021). Purchased or imported water makes up the largest portion of the ETWD’s current total water supply, at approximately 81 percent. 1 Title 22 of California’s Code of Regulations refers to State guidelines for how treated and recycled water is discharged and used.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-3 Water Supply and Demand Projections. The supply and demand forecasts for the fifth-dry-year scenario (considered to be the worst-case scenario) included in the ETWD’s 2020 UWMP are shown in Table 4.11.A. As shown in Table 4.11.A, in the multiple-dry-year scenario, the ETWD is capable of meeting all of its customers’ demands from 2025 through 2045.

Table 4.11.A: Water Supply and Demand Projections Comparison Third-Dry-Year Supply (2020–2045)
Year Water Supply (af) Water Demand (af) Surplus (af)
2025 9,523 9,523 0
2030 9,958 9,958 0
2035 9,975 9,975 0
2040 9,998 9.998 0
2045 9,980 9,980 0
Source: 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, Table 7-4 (ETWD 2021). 1 An acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to cover 1 acre of surface area to a depth of 1 foot and is approximately 326,000 gallons of water.
af = acre-feet
ETWD = El Toro Water District

4.11.3.3 Storm Drains
The storm drain system within the City is owned in part by three distinct entities: the Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD), the City, and private property owners. The portions of the storm drain system currently or previously owned by the OCFCD have been mapped out. These stormwater facilities carry runoff away from impermeable surfaces in the City to designated drainage areas. The City of Laguna Woods is a part of three watersheds: Aliso Creek, Laguna Coastal Streams, and Newport Bay.

4.11.3.4 Solid Waste
Solid waste disposal in the City is provided by CR&R. Based on available disposal reporting data from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) website, it was estimated that the annual tonnage of solid waste generated by all sources in the City in 2019 was 1,113 tons per year (or 2,224,000 pounds per year) (CalRecycle 2022).

The CR&R Transfer and Material Recovery Facility in Stanton is the closest facility operated by CR&R to the City and is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Laguna Woods. This facility accepts general waste, wood waste, green waste, bulky items, electronic waste, and construction/ demolition wastes.

Assembly Bill (AB) 939 was enacted in 1989. This bill mandated a 25 percent reduction of waste being disposed of in the landfill system by 1995, and a 50 percent reduction by 2000. In response to AB 939, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (now known as CalRecycle) was established to monitor compliance with waste reduction requirements. According to CalRecycle, all counties within the State are required to have an approved Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan (CIWMP), which outlines methods for waste diversion and demonstrates sufficient solid-waste disposal capacity for a minimum of 15 years. In compliance with AB 939, the

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -4 County prepared a CIWMP, which is kept current, demonstrating the required 15-year disposal capacity and allowing disposal of a maximum daily imported waste stream of 1,000 tons per day (tpd). Imported tonnage varies depending on demand and is limited by the solid waste facility permit for each site.

4.11.3.5 Natural Gas
A majority of natural gas utility customers in California are residential and small commercial customers. Although larger volume gas customers like electric generators and industrial customers are small in number, they consume about 65 percent of the natural gas delivered by the State’s natural gas utilities, while residential and small commercial customers consume about 35 percent.

California continues to depend upon out-of-state imports for nearly 90 percent of its natural gas supply (CPUC 2022b).

SoCalGas is the natural gas service provider for the City. SoCal Gas provides natural gas to approximately 21.8 million people in a 24,000-square-mile service area throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas owns and operates four natural gas storage facilities within southern California: Aliso Canyon, Honor Rancho, La Goleta, and Playa Del Rey (CPUC 2022a). According to the CEC, total natural gas consumption in the SoCalGas service area in 2020 was 5,231.5 million therms (CEC 2020b). Total natural gas consumption in Orange County in 2020 was 594.6 million therms (CEC 2020a).

4.11.3.6 Electricity
In 2020, California’s electricity was generated primarily by natural gas (48.5 percent), large hydroelectric (9.5 percent), nuclear (8.5 percent), and renewable sources (33.5 percent) (CEC 2020f).

Total electric generation in California in 2020 was 279,510 gigawatt-hours (GWh), down 1.0 percent from the 2019 total generation of 282,194 GWh (CEC 2020d).

The Project site is within the service area of SCE, which provides services through a grid of transmission lines and related facilities. SCE provides electricity to more than 15 million people in a 50,000-square-mile area of Central, Coastal, and Southern California (SCE 2019). According to the CEC, total electricity consumption in the SCE service area in 2020 was 83,533 GWh (32,475 GWh for the residential sector) (CEC 2020e). Total electricity consumption in Orange County in 2020 was 19,733 GWh (7,765 GWh for the residential sector) (CEC 2020c).

4.11.4 Regulatory Setting

4.11.4.1 Federal Regulations
No federal regulations for utilities and service systems are applicable to the proposed Project.

4.11.4.2 State Regulations
California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989. The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (Public Resource Code [PRC] Division 30), enacted through AB 939 and modified by subsequent legislation, required all California cities and counties to implement programs to reduce, recycle, and compost at least 50 percent of wastes by 2000 (PRC Section

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-5 41780). The State determines compliance with this mandate to “divert” 50 percent of generated waste (which includes both disposed and diverted waste) through a complex formula. This formula requires cities and counties to conduct empirical studies to establish a “base year” waste generation rate against which future diversion is measured. The actual determination of the diversion rate in subsequent years is arrived at through deduction, not direct measurement; instead of counting the amount of material recycled and composted, the city or county tracks the amount of material disposed at landfills, then subtracts the disposed amount from the base year amount. The difference is assumed to be diverted (PRC 41780.2).

Senate Bill 1374. Senate Bill (SB) 1374 requires that the annual report submitted to CalRecycle include a summary of the progress made in diversion of construction and demolition waste materials. In addition, SB 1374 required that CalRecycle adopt a model ordinance suitable for adoption by any local agency to require 50 to 75 percent diversion of construction and demolition waste materials from landfills by March 1, 2004. Local jurisdictions are not required to adopt their own construction and demolition ordinances, nor are they required to adopt CalRecycle’s model by default. However, adoption of such an ordinance may be considered by CalRecycle when determining whether to impose a fine on a jurisdiction that has failed to implement its Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE).

Assembly Bill 75. AB 75, passed in 1999, took effect on January 1, 2000. This bill adds new provisions to the PRC, mandating that State agencies develop and implement an Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP); it also mandates that community service districts providing solid-waste services report disposal and diversion information to the city, county, or regional agency in which the community service district is located.

Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Energy and water consumption by new buildings in California is regulated by the California Green Building Standard Standards Code (CALGreen Code), embodied in California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 24. Title 24 provides efficiency standards for new construction and the rehabilitation of both residential and nonresidential buildings, including building energy consumption, water conservation, and operational efficiencies. Title 24 regulates building energy consumption for heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, and lighting with regard to both electricity and natural gas, while also regulating water consumption through the installation of efficient plumbing fixtures. The efficiency standards apply to both new construction and rehabilitation of both residential and nonresidential buildings. The building efficiency standards are enforced through the local building permit process. Local government agencies may adopt and enforce energy standards for new buildings, provided these standards meet or exceed Title 24 Building Code requirements. The 2019 standards went into effect January 1, 2023, following approval by the California Building Standards Commission.

Assembly Bill 341. AB 341, enacted in 2011 and effective in 2012, changes the due date of the State agency waste management annual report to May. The bill makes a legislative declaration that it is the policy goal of the State of California that not less than 75 percent of solid waste generated be source reduced, recycled, or composted by 2020.

Public Health and Safety Code Part 9.5, Section 115700. Public Health and Safety Code Part 9.5, Section 115700, requires the proper decommissioning of inactive wells to prevent the

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -6 contamination of groundwater. The section provides specifics for the casting, securing, and marking of wells and the surrounding area. This section also provides that, at minimum, permanently inactive wells shall be destroyed in accordance with standards developed by the California Department of Water Resources pursuant to Section 13800 of the Water Code and adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board or local agencies in accordance with Section 13801 of the Water Code. Minimum standards recommended by the DWR and adopted by the State board or local agencies for the abandonment or destruction of groundwater monitoring wells or class one hazardous injection wells shall not be construed to limit, abridge, or supersede the powers or duties of the DWR, in accordance with Section 13801 of the Water Code.

4.11.4.3 Regional Regulations
El Toro Water District 2020 Regional Urban Water Management Plan. The ETWD’s 2020 Regional UWMP lists and describes the various uses, demand, supplies, target reductions, and compliance measures for its service area which includes 5,430 acres in the City and portions of the Cities of Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Mission Viejo. The 2020 Regional UWMP found that under the current supply demands for a multiple-dry-year scenario (i.e., drought conditions), the MWDOC would have sufficient supply to meet the projected growing demand for water from 2025 to 2045 while still meeting statewide reduction targets. The MWDOC which is the wholesale water supplier for the ETWD, is currently working to develop programs to increase its water supply and create a large surplus during multiple-dry-year scenarios to ensure that water demands will still be addressed during emergency drought situations. With demands projected to be around 185,806 af in 2045 during multiple-dry-year scenarios, the MWDOC would be capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2025 through 2045 with significant reserves held by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and through conservation.

4.11.4.4 Local Regulations
Climate Adaptation Plan. The City’s Climate Adaptation Plan establishes an approach for the City to prepare for a future with evolving and potentially varying climate conditions. The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies local vulnerabilities to climate change impacts (e.g., increased temperatures, decreased precipitation, and strained water supplies) and outlines a strategy to increase resilience to climate change-related hazards, increase resource independence, and sustain and advance climate adaptation efforts. At the time of its initial adoption in late 2014, the Climate Adaptation Plan was the first non-coastal, stand-alone, municipal climate adaptation plan in California. Conservation Element goals, policy objectives, and implementation actions support and are consistent with the Climate Adaptation Plan, particularly with respect to the use and management of energy- and water-related resources.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Local Implementation Plan. The City’s Local Implementation Plan is the principal policy and guidance document for the City’s stormwater/water quality programs. The Local Implementation Plan is prepared and maintained in accordance with applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits regulating stormwater and waste discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). Conservation Element goals, policy objectives, and implementation actions related to water resources support and are consistent with the Local Implementation Plan.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-7 Source Reduction and Recycling Element. The City’s Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE) demonstrates how the City will achieve and maintain compliance with waste diversion goals established by the State. The Source Reduction and Recycling Element fulfills requirements established by the California Integrated Waste Management Act (Assembly Bill 939, Sher, Chapter 1095, Statutes of 1989 as amended). Conservation Element goals, policy objectives, and implementation actions related to waste and recycling support and are consistent with the SRRE.

City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code. The following City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code sections are relevant to utilities and service systems:
• Chapter 4.10: This section implements the City's authority related to solid waste granted by state law and regulations promulgated by CalRecycle. This chapter also regulates the conduct of solid waste collection and disposal.
• Chapter 4.14: This section reduces pollutants in stormwater and non-stormwater discharges flowing to receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable by 1) prohibiting illegal discharges and illicit connections, 2) requiring implementation of best management practices, and 3) establishing development and significant redevelopment standards. • Chapter 4.24: This section increases the amount of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills by requiring minimum levels of reuse or recycling of waste generated by certain types of projects.
• Chapter 4.28: This section encourages efficient and conservation oriented use of water in new and rehabilitated landscapes by limiting the amount of water able to be applied and requiring compliance with El Toro Water District regulations.
• Section 10.08.010 Adoption of the California Building Code: This section adopts and incorporates by reference the California Building Code (CBC) (which includes the California Green Building Standards Code [CALGreen Code]).
• Section 10.10.010 Adoption of the California Electrical Code: This section adopts and incorporates by reference the California Electrical Code. • Section 10.16.010 Adoption of the California Plumbing Code: This section adopts and incorporates by reference the California Plumbing Code. • Section 10.24.010 Adoption of the California Green Building Standards Code: This section adopts and incorporates by reference the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen Code).
• Section 12.12.130 Underground Utility Lines: This section outlines requirements for the undergrounding of utility lines.
• Section 12.12.140 Sewers: This section establishes that all lots for potential development would be connected to a sanitary sewer system.

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -8 • Section 12.12.150 Drainage and Erosion Control: This section outlines standards of design and requirements for drainage and erosion control.

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Land Use Element. The primary purpose of the Land Use Element is to guide future development in the City of Laguna Woods. The Land Use Element consists of the policy document which defines the land use plan for future development as well as the background report which provides information about the City. The following policy is relevant to utilities:
• Implementation Measure II.A.7: Incorporate stormwater design considerations or Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation Plans (SUSMPs) and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), to the maximum extent practicable, in new development and significant redevelopment projects to improve water quality and ensure compliance with the City Local Implementation Plan (LIP).

City of Laguna Woods General Plan Conservation Element. The primary purpose of the Conservation Element is to identify priority conservation issues in Laguna Woods and set forth longrange City policies and programs to achieve balance between the needs of the community and environmental stewardship. The following policies are relevant to utilities:
• Policy Objective CO-7.1: Adopt and enforce regulations promoting water resource goals. ○ Adopt, review, update, and enforce regulations including, but not limited to regulations pertaining to the attainment of goals, targets, and standards established by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

4.11.5 Thresholds of Significance
The proposed Project may be deemed to have a significant impact with respect to utilities and service systems impacts if it would do the following:

Threshold 4.11.1: Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment, or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects.

Threshold 4.11.2: Not have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry, and multiple dry years.

Threshold 4.11.3: Not result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments.

Threshold 4.11.4: Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-9 Threshold 4.11.5: Fail to comply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste.

4.11.6 Project Impacts
Threshold 4.11.1: Would the project require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment, or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects? Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites as well as amendments to the zoning and land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses either Community Facilities – Public/Institutional or Open Space districts. The amendments to the zoning and land use designations on these properties are intended to better correlate existing uses with General Plan land use designations and zoning and would not result in additional development.

The City’s housing needs allocation for the planning period between October 2021 and October 2029 was established by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) at 997 units.

The zoning overlays that are proposed as part of the Project would accommodate the construction of 1,196 housing units on the Potential Housing Sites. According to the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS), the average household size in structures that have 50 or more housing units (the highest housing density type evaluated in the AHS) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 1.99 persons. Because most of the proposed zoning overlays would allow for higher density housing, 1.99 persons per household was deemed appropriate for use in the analysis contained in this PEIR. Therefore, the additional 1,196 housing units that would potentially be built in the City are estimated to result in an increase in 2,382 residents.

According to CalEEMod projections, the proposed zoning overlay would result in approximately 325 af of indoor and outdoor water use. The ETWD states that the annual water use in its service area for residential uses was approximately 4,681 af (or approximately 1,525 million gallons) in 2020, and the water demand for residential uses is expected to lessen to 4,660 af (or approximately 1,518 million gallons) by 2045. The UWMP states that a weighted average of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) projections for each city served by the ETWD was used in the calculations for future water demand in the UWMP, and thus, the estimated 997 units that were required by the RHNA for Laguna Woods are accounted for in the future water demand projections of the ETWD UWMP given that all the Potential Housing Sites are located within the ETWD service area.

Therefore, the new housing development allowed under the proposed Project would be less than significant based on RHNA allocation being considered in the UWMP water use projections as identified in Section 4.3 of the UWMP. Additionally, the 1,196 units (which include the 997 units included in the RHNA allocation) that could be accommodated on the Potential Housing Sites would replace existing uses that currently are assumed in the water use projections. The potential new demand impacts of the additional 199 units would be off-set to a level of insignificance due to the removal of existing uses to accommodate full build out of the 1,196 units.

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -10 The ETWD also owns and operates the City’s sewer system. As indicated above, the WRP currently has a capacity of 5.54 mgd under an average flow condition, although it has the capacity to treat a maximum flow of 6 mgd to secondary effluent standards. According to the 2020 UWMP, approximately 4,219 af of wastewater were generated in the ETWD service area in the 2019–2020 fiscal year. Wastewater volume is calculated in the UWMP using potable water consumption in the service area. The potential development of 1,196 housing units would account for the generation of approximately 325 af of wastewater annually.
2 The additional demand can be accommodated at the
existing WRP. Additionally, the 1,196 housing units which could be accommodated in the zoning overlays would replace existing uses that currently generate wastewater. Impacts to wastewater generation from any future projects developed in accordance with the proposed Project would be less than significant.

The City is part of three watersheds: Aliso Creek, the Laguna Coastal Streams, and Newport Bay. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would comply with the requirements of the Construction General Permit and may include the preparation and implementation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The SWPPP would include construction BMPs to control and direct on-site surface runoff and would include detention facilities, if required, to ensure that stormwater runoff from the construction site would not exceed the capacity of the stormwater drainage systems. The new development allowed under the proposed Project would also comply with applicable MS4 Permit, which requires the preparation of a Final WQMP and implementation of operational BMPs to target and reduce pollutants of concern in stormwater runoff from project sites. Compliance with applicable MS4 Permit would reduce operational impacts related to surface water quality standards, waste discharge requirements, and/or degradation of water quality to a less than significant level, and no mitigation is required.

Additionally, the 1,196 units would replace existing urban uses, several of which were constructed prior to current MS4 permit requirements.

According to the CEC, total natural gas consumption in Orange County in 2020 was 594.6 million therms (CEC 2020a). CalEEMod was used to calculate the approximate annual natural gas associated with future housing development on the Potential Housing Sites. The estimated potential increase in natural gas demand associated with the proposed Project is 23,826,100,000 British thermal units (BTU) per year (238,318 therms per year). Therefore, operation of the new residential development allowed under the proposed Project would increase annual consumption in Orange County by

0.04 percent. The proposed Project would not require the construction of any physical improvements related to the provision of natural gas service that would result in significant environmental impact. Additionally, the 1,196 units would replace existing urban uses, several of which consume natural gas, thereby decreasing the net gain in natural gas consumption.

Based on the CalEEMod outputs for the proposed Project, the estimated potential increase in electricity demand associated with the operation of the new residential development allowed under the proposed Project is 7,794,464 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. Total electricity demand in Orange County in 2020 was approximately 19,733 GWh (19,733,139,603 kWh). Therefore, operation of the proposed Project would increase annual electricity consumption in Orange County by approximately

0.04 percent. Electricity demand for the proposed Project would be less than significant. 2 105,910,700 gallons of potable water used by residential uses x (1 af / 325,851 gallons) = 325 af

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-11 Additionally, the 1,196 units would replace existing urban uses, all of which consume electricity, thereby likely decreasing any net gain in electricity consumption. Lastly, any future projects that would be developed in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be responsible for constructing adequate tele-communication facility extensions on their respective project sites.

Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations pertaining to water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities. As a part of the development review process, all future projects would be required to demonstrate that existing public utilities would be sufficient to serve the future projects’ needs.

The proposed Project also includes text changes to the Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, and renames the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element. The text changes to the Noise Element include an update to the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under the General Plan. These text amendments to the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. Text changes to the Noise Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to utilities or service systems. Text changes to the Land Use element are necessary to provide internal consistency between General Plan elements. The renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element is being provided to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel.

California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new or expanded water, wastewater treatment, or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities that would affect utilities. As mentioned earlier, the City is substantially built out, and the Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network and supporting regional transportation planning. The renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element (consistent with State law) would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to utilities or service systems. Nevertheless, the proposed project would increase demand for water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, and telecommunications facilities. Therefore, it would result in less than significant impacts on utilities and service systems, and no mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.11.2: Would the project have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry, and multiple dry years?
Less Than Significant Impact. As indicated above, the proposed Project consists of the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites as well as amendments to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses to either Community Facilities – Public/

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -12 Institutional or Open Space districts. The amendments to the zoning and land use designations on these properties are intended to better correlate existing uses with General Plan land use designations and zoning and would not result in additional development.

According to water demand factors included in the CalEEMod emissions model, future development allowed under the proposed Project is estimated to demand approximately 106 million gallons per year (approximately 65 million gallons for indoor use and 41 million gallons for outdoor use) or 325.0 acre-feet per year (afy) of potable water.3 Therefore, the estimated increase in water demand associated with the new development proposed as part of the Project would represent approximately 6.9 percent and 7.0 percent of the ETWD’s current annual water demand, based on the system’s projected demand of 4,681 af in 2020 and 4,660 af in 2045, respectively. As noted previously, the 997 RHNA units were assumed in the water demand projections in the ETWD 2020 UWMP. Additionally, the 1,196 housing units (which include the 997 units in the City’s RHNA allocation) that could be accommodated in the zoning overlays would replace existing uses that currently are assumed in the water use projections. The potential new demand impacts of the additional 199 units would be off-set to a level of insignificance due to the removal of existing uses to accommodate full build out of the 1,196 units. The Project-generated increase in water demand would be considered less than significant and would fall within existing capacity and available supply.

According to the 2020 UWMP, ETWD’s available water supply would meet the future projected demand for normal year demands from 2025 through 2045. Should the need arise, ETWD can purchase more water from MWD through the MWDOC. For single dry years, a 9 percent increase in demand is expected for the South County region where the ETWD’s service area is located.

However, the City would be able to meet the future projected demand in these conditions from 2025 to 2045 with significant reserves held by MWD and through conservation. For the five consecutive dry year scenario, a 9 percent increase in demand is expected for the South County region compounded over the five years. Even with the demand increase of 9 percent each year (for a five consecutive year scenario), the ETWD would be capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2025 to 2045 with significant reserves by the MWD and through conservation. Therefore, the proposed Project would not result in insufficient water supplies during normal, dry, and multiple dry years, and adequate water supply would be available to accommodate for the potential residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Additionally, text changes to the Noise or Land Use Elements and the introduction of the Mobility Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to utilities and service systems. As discussed above, the proposed Project would increase demand for water supplies; however, the ETWD would have sufficient water supplies to the serve the proposed Project. Therefore, the proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts related to water supplies. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.11.3: Would the project result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
3 105,910,700 gallons x (1 af / 325,851 gallons) = 325.0 af

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» 4.11-13 Less Than Significant Impact. As indicated above, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites as well as amendments to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses to either Community Facilities – Public/Institutional or Open Space districts. The amendments to the zoning and land use designations on these properties are intended to better correlate existing uses with General Plan land use designations and zoning and would not result in additional development.

Wastewater volume is calculated in the UWMP using potable water consumption in the service area, and therefore, because residential wastewater generation is not specified in the 2020 UWMP, it is assumed that the volume of wastewater generation associated with the new residential development allowed under the proposed Project is equal to approximately 90 percent of the indoor water use anticipated for such development. According to water demand factors included in the CalEEMod emissions model, future development built in accordance with the proposed Project is estimated to demand approximately 106 million gallons per year (approximately 65 million gallons for indoor use and 41 million gallons for outdoor use) or 325.0 afy of potable water.4 According to the 2020 UWMP, approximately 4,219 af (3.77 mgd) of wastewater was generated in the ETWD service area in the 2019–2020 fiscal year. Wastewater volume is calculated in the UWMP using potable water consumption in the service area. The additional 290,141 gallons per day can be accommodated at the WRP and its current capacity of 5.54 mgd. Furthermore, the 1,196 units would replace existing urban uses that currently generate wastewater.

It should also be noted that the text changes to the Noise and Land Use Elements and the introduction of the Mobility Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to utilities and service systems. Therefore, impacts to wastewater generation from any future projects developed in accordance with the proposed Project would be less than significant. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.11.4: Would the project generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals?
Less Than Significant Impact. Waste from the new residential development allowed under the proposed Project would be required to comply with State and local solid waste reduction, diversion, and recycling policies and regulations. According to CalEEMod calculations, the additional residential development allowed on the Potential Housing Sites would generate 1,168.91 tons of solid waste per year. The nearest CR&R facility to the City is the Stanton Recycling and Transfer Facility.

Currently, the Stanton Recycling and Transfer Facility permits up to 3,600 tons of waste per day.

According to the most recent inspection, the Stanton Recycling and Transfer Facility daily tonnage log indicated that the maximum tonnage accepted since the most recent inspection at the landfill (July 25, 2022) was 1,798 tons. Therefore, the proposed Project would add a small amount of waste to the Stanton Recycling and Transfer Facility which would have adequate capacity to serve the proposed Project. Furthermore, the 1,196 housing units would replace existing urban uses, most of which currently generate solid waste.
4 105,910,700 gallons x (1 af / 325851 gallons) = 325.0 af

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4.11 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\4.11 Utilities and Service Systems.docx «05/06/24» -14 The proposed text changes to the Noise and Land Use Elements and the introduction of the Mobility Element would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to utilities and service systems. Therefore, impacts related to solid waste generation from any future projects developed in accordance with the proposed Project would be less than significant. No mitigation is required.

Threshold 4.11.5: Would the project comply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste? Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites as well as amendments to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses to either Community Facilities – Public/Institutional or Open Space districts. The amendments to the zoning and land use designations on these properties are intended to better correlate existing uses with General Plan land use designations and zoning and would not result in additional development.

Any future development would be required to comply with federal, State, and local requirements for solid waste. Solid waste disposal practices in California are governed by multiple federal, State, and local agencies that enforce legislation and regulations ensuring that landfill operations minimize impacts to public health and safety and the environment. The California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939) changed the focus of solid waste management from landfill to diversion strategies (e.g., source reduction, recycling, and composting). The purpose of the diversion strategies is to reduce dependence on landfills for solid waste disposal. AB 939 established mandatory diversion goals of 25 percent by 1995, 50 percent by 2000, and 75 percent by 2020. The City provides curbside recycling for both residential and commercial uses, as well as curbside residential green waste, which both count toward the City’s solid waste diversion rate. CalRecycle tracks and monitors solid waste disposal on a per-capita basis. Future residential projects allowed under the proposed zoning overlays would be required to comply with the City’s Construction and Demolition Ordinance. As stipulated by the CALGreen Code, future residential projects on the Potential Housing Sites would be required to divert a minimum of 65 percent of construction and demolition debris in order to obtain building permits. Future projects would be required to comply with existing and future statutes and regulations, including waste diversion programs mandated by City, State, and federal law. Therefore, the proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts with respect to federal, State, and local statutes and regulations related to solid wastes, and no mitigation is required.

4.11.7 Level of Significance Prior to Mitigation
The proposed Project would not result in potentially significant impacts related to utilities and service systems.

4.11.8 Regulatory Compliance Measures and Mitigation Measures No regulatory compliance measures or mitigation measures are applicable to the proposed Project pertaining to utilities and service systems.

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4.11.9 Cumulative Impacts
The purpose of this section is to evaluate any additional incremental impact that the proposed Project is likely to cause over and above the combined impacts of recently approved and proposed projects in Laguna Woods. The impact area used to assess potential cumulative utilities and service systems impacts is the City because the proposed Project would affect population and housing within Laguna Woods. The City has not seen any new housing development since completion of the San Sebastian development project in 2008. Therefore, the cumulative impacts associated with the proposed Project would only consider impacts from implementation of the proposed Project that would contribute to population and housing growth in the Project vicinity.

As stated above, the proposed Project includes the adoption of overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites as well as amendments to the land use designations and zoning on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses to either Community Facilities – Public/Institutional or Open Space districts.

The amendments to the zoning and land use designations on these additional properties are intended to better correlate existing uses with General Plan land use designations and zoning and would not result in additional development. Any future projects implemented in accordance with the proposed zoning overlays would be required to adhere to the General Plan, provide required development impact fees, and comply with applicable development regulations pertaining to water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities. Additionally, adequate water supply is available to accommodate the additional housing units allowed under the proposed Project. Therefore, adequate water supply would be available to accommodate future housing development on the Potential Housing Sites. Solid waste and wastewater generated by the new housing development allowed under the proposed Project could be accommodated with existing infrastructure, and would not lead to a significant increase that would alter the capacity of the existing solid waste and wastewater infrastructure set in place. Any future projects would be required to comply with existing and future statutes and regulations, including waste diversion programs mandated by City, State, and federal law. Therefore, the impacts from the proposed Project would not be considered cumulatively considerable.

4.11.10 Level of Significance After Mitigation
The proposed Project would have no significant impacts related to utilities and service systems.

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5.0 ALTERNATIVES

5.1 INTRODUCTION
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) include a discussion of reasonable project alternatives that would “feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project, but would avoid or substantially lessen any significant impacts of the project, and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives” (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.6). This chapter identifies potential alternatives to the Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update (proposed Project), evaluates the potential impacts of each alternative, and compares the potential impacts of each alternative against the proposed Project’s impacts, as required by CEQA.

Key provisions of the State CEQA Guidelines on alternatives (Section 15126.6[b] through [f]) are summarized below to explain the foundation and legal requirements for the alternatives analysis in the EIR:
• The discussion of alternatives shall focus on alternatives to the project or its location that are capable of avoiding or substantially lessening any significant effects of the project, even if these alternatives would impede to some degree the attainment of the project objectives or would be more costly (15126.6[b]).
• The specific alternative of ‘no project’ shall also be evaluated along with its impact (15126.6[e][1]). The ‘no project’ analysis shall discuss the existing conditions at the time the Notice of Preparation is published, and at the time the environmental analysis is commenced, as well as what would reasonably be expected to occur in the foreseeable future if the project were not approved, based on current plans and consistent with available infrastructure and community services. If the environmentally superior alternative is the ‘no project’ alternative, the EIR shall also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the other alternatives (15126.6[e][2]).
• The range of alternatives required in an EIR is governed by the ‘rule of reason’ that requires the EIR to set forth only those alternatives necessary to permit a reasoned choice. The alternatives shall be limited to ones that would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project. Of those alternatives, the EIR need examine in detail only the ones that the lead agency determines could feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project. The range of feasible alternatives shall be selected and discussed in a manner to foster meaningful public participation and informed decision-making. Among the factors that may be taken into account when addressing the feasibility of alternatives are site suitability, economic viability, availability of infrastructure, general plan consistency, other plans or regulatory limitations, jurisdictional boundaries, and whether the proponent can reasonably acquire, control or otherwise have access to the alternative site (or the site is already owned by the proponent) (15126.6[f]). • For alternative locations, only locations that would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project need be considered for inclusion in the EIR (15126.6[f][2][A]).

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5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\5.0 Alternatives.docx (05/06/24) -2 • If the lead agency concludes that no feasible alternative locations exist, it must disclose the reasons for this conclusion, and should include the reasons in the EIR. For example, in some cases there may be no feasible alternative locations for a geothermal plant or mining project which must be in close proximity to natural resources at a given location (15126.6[f][2][B]). • An EIR need not consider an alternative whose effect cannot be reasonably ascertained and whose implementation is remote and speculative (15126.6[f][3]).

Pursuant to the guidelines stated above, a range of alternatives to the proposed Project is considered and evaluated in this EIR. These alternatives were developed in the course of Project planning and environmental review. The discussion in this section provides:

1. A description and analysis of impacts for each of the alternatives considered;

2. Comparative analysis of each alternative that focuses on the potentially significant unavoidable environmental impacts of the proposed Project (the purpose of this analysis is to determine whether alternatives are capable of eliminating or reducing the significant environmental impacts of the Project to a less than significant level); and

3. Conclusions regarding the alternative’s: (1) ability to avoid or substantially lessen the significant unavoidable impacts of the Project; (2) ability to attain the Project objectives (as stated below); and (3) merits compared to the merits of the proposed Project.

5.2 PROPOSED PROJECT
The proposed Project evaluated in this PEIR includes updates to the Circulation, Land Use, and Noise Elements of the City’s General Plan, a renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, and amendments to the City’s Zoning Code. The Project is described in greater detail below.

5.2.1 General Plan Land Use Element
The proposed Project would not change the General Plan land use designations on any of the Potential Housing Sites. Instead, as discussed further below, the Project would apply one of four new residential overlay zoning districts on each of the Potential Housing Sites. The proposed Project would amend the land use designations on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses, which include 12 other sites (14 individual properties) that are owned by the City, the Golden Rain Foundation, and the El Toro Water District. Of these, the land use designations on 12 parcels would be changed from Commercial, Open Space, or Residential Community to Community Facilities. Land use designations on the other two properties would be changed from Residential Community and High Density Residential to Open Space. As described above, these minor administrative changes are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and will continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future.

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5.2.2 General Plan Circulation Element
The proposed Project includes text changes to the existing General Plan Circulation Element and renames it to the Mobility Element. The Mobility Element has been designed to meet State law requirements for circulation elements. “Mobility” is purposefully used in this element’s title to emphasize the City’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel.

California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2)(B) defines “users of streets, roads, and highways” as bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads. The Mobility Element focuses on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network.

5.2.3 General Plan Noise Element
The proposed Project would also update the noise contour maps in the Noise Element to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under General Plan buildout.

5.2.4 Zoning Code Amendment
The proposed Project includes the adoption of four new overlay zoning districts that would allow for residential development on the Potential Housing Sites. Development standards would be established for each of the new overlay zoning districts. Of the 17 Potential Housing Sites, nine sites (Sites 1–8 and Site 15) would be included in the Residential High Density Overlay, which would allow residential development at densities between 30–50 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). Five sites (Sites 9–12 and Site 17) would be included in the Residential Medium Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 15–20 du/ac. Two sites (Sites 13 and 16) would be included in the Residential Low Density Overlay, which would allow between 8–10 du/ac, and Site 14 would be within the Residential Medium Density Overlay, which would allow between 20–30 du/ac.

The proposed Project would also amend the zoning districts on the Sites Proposed for Land Use Designation Changes and Rezoning to Reflect Existing Uses. The existing zoning districts on two sites (Sites 18 and 22) would be changed from Community Commercial to Community FacilitiesPublic/Institutional. Four sites (Sites 24–26 and Site 29) would be changed from Residential Community to Community Facilities-Public/Institutional. Four sites (Sites 21, 27, and 28) would be changed from Open Space-Recreation to Community Facilities-Public/Institutional. Lastly, Site 19 would be changed from Residential Community to Open Space-Passive and Site 20 would be changed from Residential Multifamily to Open Space-Recreation. As noted above, these minor administrative changes are intended to reflect the reality that these properties are currently being used as open space or community facilities and will continue to be used for those purposes for the foreseeable future.

5.2.5 Project Objectives
In conformance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15124, the following primary objectives support the Project’s purpose, assist the Lead Agency in developing a reasonable range of alternatives to be evaluated in this PEIR, and ultimately aid the decision-makers in preparing findings and overriding considerations, if necessary. The Project’s purpose is to update the City’s General Plan and Zoning

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5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\5.0 Alternatives.docx (05/06/24) -4 Code to address the City’s housing needs and meet State law requirements and reflect logical land use designations and zoning districts. The following Project objectives are provided to support this purpose:

1. Enhanced Housing Choices. The Project is intended to accommodate a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainably priced housing for all income groups.

2. Adequate Housing Supply. The Project would amend the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code to provide adequate potential housing sites with corresponding density to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 997 housing units, inclusive of prior planning cycle carryover housing units. The Project would also include a 199-dwelling-unit buffer sufficient to accommodate the RHNA during the entire planning period given the requirements of the “no net loss” statute. The Project would accommodate the appropriate distribution of new multi-family housing throughout the City.

3. Community Character, Health, and Safety. The Project would permit well-designed in-fill development that protects and enhances the quality of life and character of established neighborhoods and promotes healthy and safe living environments.

4. Multi-modal Transportation. The Project would decrease reliance on the automobile and encourage active lifestyles through policies and in-fill development that increase the safety, convenience, and integration of multiple transportation modes.

5. Minimization of Noise Sources. The Project would minimize exposure of sensitive noise receptors to the detrimental effects of excessive noise from new development by incorporating noise considerations into land use planning decisions.

5.2.6 Significant Adverse Unavoidable Impacts of the Proposed Project

5.2.6.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Based on the analysis results, the proposed Project would result in 5,933.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (MT CO2e/yr), which would exceed the scaled SCAQMD threshold of 975 MT CO2e/yr. Additionally, the proposed Project would result in per service population emissions of

2.5 MT CO2e/yr per service population, which exceeds the SCAQMD’s scaled screening threshold of

1.6 MT CO2e/yr per service population. However, each discretionary development project is required to be analyzed for conformance with the General Plan, zoning requirements, and other applicable local and State requirements, comply with the requirements of CEQA, and obtain all necessary clearances and permits. While Mitigation Measure GHG-1 would serve to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with build out of the Project, GHG emission impacts would remain significant and unavoidable because compliance with future efficiency targets cannot be assured.

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5.3 ALTERNATIVES INITIALLY CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED FROM FURTHER

CONSIDERATION
Section 15126.6(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines suggests that EIRs identify any alternatives that were considered by the Lead Agency but were rejected during the scoping process and briefly explain the reasons underlying the Lead Agency’s determination. In evaluating an appropriate range of alternatives to the proposed Project, an Alternate Development Areas Alternative and a No Project Alternative were considered and rejected by the City of Laguna Woods (City).

The following is a discussion of the Alternative Development Areas Alternative and the No Project Alternative considered during the environmental review process and the reasons they were not selected for detailed analysis in this Draft PEIR.

5.3.1 Alternative Development Areas Alternative
CEQA requires that the discussion of alternatives focus on alternatives to the Project or its location that are capable of avoiding or substantially lessening any significant effects of the Project. In considering alternative locations, the first question in the analysis is whether any of the significant effects of the Project would be avoided or substantially lessened by moving the Project to another location. Only locations that would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the Project need to be considered for inclusion in the EIR (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6[f][2][A]). The proposed Project is a General Plan and Zoning Update to accommodate the City of Laguna Woods (City) Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. The RHNA allocation is specific to the City and its jurisdiction, and assigns a certain amount of housing units for each jurisdiction to accommodate. The City does not have jurisdiction over areas outside of its boundaries. Laguna Woods is characterized by urban areas, including single-family and multifamily residential uses and small concentrations of commercial, office, open space, and community facilities uses. The City is unique in that nearly all of its existing residential uses are age-restricted for adults aged 55 years and older. Of the 13,386 dwelling units in the City of Laguna Woods, 12,736 are located in the gated community of Laguna Woods Village, which represents 80 percent of the City’s total land area. Four other residential communities (Ivy Park at Laguna Woods (formerly The Regency), Ivy Park at Wellington (formerly Las Palmas), San Sebastian, and Whispering Fountains) provide an additional 650 dwelling units in the City. The City of Laguna Woods is built-out with existing land uses, the majority of which are located within Laguna Woods Village. Other than established residential, office, civic and commercial land uses, portions of the City are reserved for conservation and open space. There are few opportunities to locate additional residential units and providing the zoning overlay was the only viable option accommodating additional development intensity. In addition, the mitigation applied to the proposed Project and the significant unavoidable impact related to greenhouse gas emissions would apply to alternative development areas.

Therefore, an alternative development area for the proposed Project is not possible, and is not considered further in this section.

5.3.2 No Project Alternative
In accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6, the purpose of describing and analyzing a no project alternative is to allow decision makers to compare the impacts of approving the proposed Project with the impacts of not approving the proposed Project. The No Project

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5 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\5.0 Alternatives.docx (05/06/24) -6 Alternative would not provide accommodation for the City’s RHNA allocation. The City’s population would remain at existing levels because it is essentially built out. No alterations to the City would occur, and all existing residential development would generally remain in its current condition. None of the impacts of the proposed Project, adverse or beneficial, would occur. The City would not be able to meet its housing obligations as defined by the State RHNA allocations. The No Project Alternative would be the same as existing conditions, which were described in the environmental setting section for each environmental topic. Local jurisdictions are required by State law (Government Code Section 65580 et seq.) to plan for their fair share of projected housing construction needs in their region. Housing unit construction goals are set by the State Department of Housing and Community Development and allocated to cities through regional planning agencies such as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). This is called the RHNA. Future housing need refers to the proportion of the region’s future housing needs allocated to a community. Since 1969, California has required that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting housing plans as part of their “general plan” (also required by the State). General plans serve as the local government’s “blueprint” for how the city and/or county will grow and develop. In order to create a housing plan (or Housing Element) showing that it could meet the local housing needs, a jurisdiction must first know how much housing it must plan for. This is determined by a process called the RHNA.

The RHNA prepared by SCAG defines the housing unit goals for the region. The City’s fair share for the planning period between October 1, 2021, and October 1, 2029, (the current adopted RHNA period) was established by SCAG at 997 units. The RHNA target number was based on projected household growth and the resulting need for construction of additional housing units allocated over an 8-year planning period (2021–2029). Housing Element law mandates that local governments adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. The law recognizes that in order for the private market to adequately address housing needs and demand, local governments must adopt land use plans and regulatory systems that provide opportunities for housing production. California’s housing element law requires that each city and county develop local housing programs to meet its “fair share” of existing and future housing needs. If the City fails to implement its housing element or adopts one that is inadequate, a court can order the City to halt all development until an adequate element is adopted or order approval of specific affordable housing developments. Therefore, this alternative could result in the State taking over control of the City’s Housing Element and implementing minimum zoning requirements to accommodate housing for a diversity of housing to meet the needs of multiple income categories. RHNA compliance by each jurisdiction has received significant oversight by the State Department of Housing and Community Development due to the ongoing housing crisis facing California. Therefore, a No Project Alternative is not possible, and is not considered further in this section.

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5.4 ALTERNATIVE UNDER ANALYSIS

5.4.1 Reduced Density Alternative

5.4.1.1 Description
The Reduced Density Alternative would result in a 199-unit reduction of housing development capacity on the Potential Housing Sites. This alternative would reduce the potential residential development capacity from 1,196 dwelling units to 997 dwelling units, which could result in the City’s population increasing by approximately 1,984 residents. This would represent an approximate 17 percent reduction in growth as compared to the Project. All mitigation measures applied to the Project (1,196 dwelling units) would still be required if the proposed zoning overlays were revised to allow for only 997 dwelling units.

5.4.1.2 Environmental Analysis
The Reduced Density Alternative would enable the future development of 997 housing units, which would allow the City to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 997 housing units. The Reduced Density Alternative would eliminate the 199-dwelling-unit buffer intended to accommodate the RHNA during the entire planning period given the requirements of the “no net loss” statute. As such, the total housing units facilitated by the Reduced Density Alternative would be 997 as opposed to the 1,196 facilitated under the proposed Project.

Because the Reduced Density Alternative would ultimately result in the accommodation of fewer residential units as compared to the proposed Project, the Reduced Density Alternative would result in environmental impacts on aesthetics, air quality, energy, noise and vibration, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation, and utilities and service systems to a lesser degree than the proposed Project. As the proposed Project’s impacts on these resource areas are less than significant, the Reduced Density Alternative’s impacts on these resource areas would also be less than significant.

However, the Reduced Density Alternative would still result in significant and unavoidable impacts to greenhouse gas emissions, though slightly lesser than the proposed Project, because compliance with future efficiency targets still could not be assured.

The elimination of 199 dwelling units from the proposed Project would result in the Reduced Density Alternative being inconsistent with the State RHNA statute requiring cities to maintain adequate sites to accommodate their unmet housing needs allocation at all times during the planning period (“no net loss”). As a result, the Reduced Density Alternative would result in a significant and unavoidable impact pertaining to Threshold 4.5.2 in Section 4.5, Land Use and Planning, of the Draft PEIR, pertaining to conflict with an applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation. This impact would not be capable of mitigation as there would be no way to ensure “no net loss” whilst reducing the number of proposed dwelling units.

In summary, implementation of the Reduced Density Alternative would result in overall impacts that would be less than or, in the case of land use and planning, greater than the proposed Project.

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5.4.1.3 Attainment of Project Objectives
The Reduced Density Alternative would be inferior to the proposed Project in meeting one of the Project objectives and would fail to meet another Project objective.

The Reduced Density Alternative would be inferior to the proposed Project in meeting Project Objective 1:
• Enhanced Housing Choices. The Project is intended to accommodate a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents, creating opportunities for attainably priced housing for all income groups.

The reduction in housing units would decrease accommodation of a variety of housing types to meet the needs of all Laguna Woods residents.

The Reduced Density Alternative would not meet Project Objective 2:
• Adequate Housing Supply. The Project would amend the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code to provide adequate potential housing sites with corresponding density to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 997 housing units, inclusive of prior planning cycle carryover housing units. The Project would also include a 199-dwelling-unit buffer sufficient to accommodate the RHNA during the entire planning period given the requirements of the “no net loss” statute. The Project would accommodate the appropriate distribution of new multi-family housing throughout the City.

The Reduced Density Alternative would not include the 199-dwelling-unit buffer sufficient to accommodate the RHNA during the entire planning period given the requirements of the “no net loss” statute. Therefore, a Reduced Density Alternative is not environmentally superior to the proposed Project because it would result in a significant and unavoidable land use and planning conflict pertaining to failure to include the additional units to ensure “no net loss.”

5.5 IDENTIFICATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE CEQA requires the identification of an Environmentally Superior Alternative among the proposed Project and the alternatives evaluated in an EIR. State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(e)(2) provides that, if the No Project Alternative is the Environmentally Superior Alternative, then the EIR shall also identify an Environmentally Superior Alternative among the other alternatives and the proposed Project. Table 5.F provides, in summary format, a comparison of the level of impacts of the Reduced Density Alternative to the proposed Project, since this was the only alternative determined to be possible.

As shown in Table 5.F, below, all impacts under the Reduced Density Alternative would be less than the proposed Project, aside from impacts to land use and planning, which would be significant and unavoidable and greater than the proposed Project. The Reduced Density Alternative would result in reduced impacts on the environment because the Potential Housing Sites would be developed at a reduced density, thereby reducing most of the proposed Project’s environmental impacts.

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\5.0 Alternatives.docx (05/06/24) 5-9 Table 5.F: Comparison of the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Project and Project Alternatives
Impact Area Proposed Project Impact with Mitigation (if any) Reduced Density Alternative Aesthetics Less Than Significant Less
Air Quality Less Than Significant Less
Energy Less Than Significant Less
Greenhouse Gas Significant and Unavoidable Less1
Land Use and Planning Less Than Significant Greater
Noise and Vibration Less Than Significant Less
Population and Housing Less than Significant Less
Public Services Less than Significant Less
Recreation Less than Significant Less
Transportation Less Than Significant Less
Utilities and Service Systems Less than Significant Less 1 Impacts would continue to be significant and unavoidable; however, overall impacts would be less than the proposed Project.

However, the Reduced Density Alternative would either not meet the Project objectives or meet them to a lesser extent than the proposed Project. Specifically, the Reduced Density Alternative would not meet the RHNA requirement of ensuring “no net loss” as required by State law (Government Code Section 65580 et seq.), thereby causing a significant and unavoidable impact pertaining to a land use and planning inconsistency and failing to meet Project objectives.

As such, the proposed Project is the Environmentally Superior Alternative. With the exception of greenhouse gas emissions, implementation of the proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts on the environmental impact areas analyzed in this PEIR. In contrast, implementation of the Reduced Density Alternative would result in similar significant and unavoidable impacts relating to greenhouse gas emissions, and would not meet all of the proposed Project’s objectives. Further, implementation of the proposed Project would meet all of the identified Project objectives, including meeting the City’s RHNA requirement of 3,936 and its additional buffer of 199 units to ensure “no net loss” as required by State law (Government Code Section 65580 et seq.). Accordingly, it is determined that the proposed Project is the Environmentally Superior Alternative because implementation would result in the least environmental impacts while meeting all of the Project’s objectives.

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6.0 OTHER CEQA CONSIDERATIONS
Section 15126 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (State CEQA Guidelines) requires that all phases of a project must be considered when evaluating its impact on the environment, including: planning, acquisition, development, and operation. This chapter discusses these CEQA considerations associated with the implementation of the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update (proposed Project). According to Section 15126 of the State CEQA Guidelines, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must include the following as part of its analysis, as addressed in this chapter:

1. Significant short- and long-term environmental effects associated with project implementation (Section 6.1, Short-and Long-Term Implications);

2. Significant environmental effects due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption use of energy, or wasteful use of energy resources (Section 6.2, Energy Impacts);

3. Significant environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the proposed project is implemented (Section 6.3, Significant and Unavoidable Impacts);

4. Significant irreversible environmental changes that would result from implementation of the proposed project (Section 6.4, Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes); and

5. Growth-inducing impacts resulting from implementation of the proposed project (Section 6.5, Growth-Inducing Impacts).

6.1 SHORT- AND LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS
Section 15126.2(a) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR identify and focus on the significant effects of the proposed project on the environment. Specifically, Section 15126.2(a) states that an EIR shall:

Direct and indirect significant effects of the project on the environment shall be clearly identified and described, giving due consideration to both the short-term and long-term effects. The discussion should include relevant specifics of the area, the resources involved, physical changes, alterations to ecological systems, and changes induced in population distribution, population concentration, the human use of the land (including commercial and residential development), health and safety problems caused by the physical changes, and other aspects of the resource base such as water, historical resources, scenic quality, and public services. The EIR shall also analyze any significant environmental effects the project might cause or risk exacerbating by bringing development and people into the area affected.

The proposed Project involves updates to the City of Laguna Woods (City) General Plan Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, the renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, and amendments to the City’s Zoning Code. The updates to the Land Use Element would establish Residential; High, Medium, Medium-Low and Low Density overlay zones which

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6 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\6.0 Other CEQA Considerations.docx (05/06/24) -2 could accommodate up to 1,196 dwelling units on the Potential Housing Sites. The updates to the Noise Element would update the noise contour maps to reflect current noise conditions in the City as well as those anticipated under General Plan build out. The text edits and renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element would focus on maintaining and coordinating the City’s balanced multi-modal transportation network. The proposed Project would not include any physical changes or alterations to ecological systems. The proposed Project would induce changes in population distribution, population concentration, and the human use of land due to the residential zoning overlays that would allow for denser housing on the Potential Housing Sites. However, the proposed Project itself would not result in any new or expanded development. Although the proposed Project would indirectly bring potential development or population into the City, the proposed Project would not result in any significant environmental impacts because future development allowed under the proposed zoning overlays would accommodate planned regional housing growth included in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The proposed Project would not include or facilitate any new physical improvements or development. Therefore, implementation of the proposed Project would not create potential short-term or long-term direct or indirect significant effects.

6.2 ENERGY IMPACTS
According to Section 15126.2(b) of the State CEQA Guidelines, “[i]f analysis of the project’s energy use reveals that the project may result in significant environmental effects due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption use of energy, or wasteful use of energy resources, the EIR shall mitigate that energy use.”
As described in Section 4.6, Energy, the proposed Project would not result in significant impacts related to energy use. The proposed Project would not, in and of itself entitle, propose, or otherwise require the construction of new development or rehabilitation of existing development.

Construction activities associated with the development of additional housing units could occur through the horizon year 2045, which would cause short-term emissions of criteria air pollutants.

Transportation energy represents the largest energy use during construction and would occur from the transport and use of construction equipment, delivery vehicles and haul trucks, and construction worker vehicles that would use petroleum fuels (e.g., diesel fuel and/or gasoline). Project construction would have a negligible effect on local and regional energy supplies. Furthermore, impacts related to energy use during construction would be temporary and relatively small in comparison to Orange County’s overall use of the State’s available energy resources. In addition, compliance with State regulations would reduce the inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary consumption of energy.

Operational activities associated with the additional housing units would result in energy demand associated with natural gas use, electricity consumption, and fuel used for vehicle trips. Operation of the proposed Project would negligibly increase the annual natural gas consumption in Orange County by approximately 0.04 percent. Electrical and natural gas demand associated with Project operations would not be considered inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary in comparison to other similar developments in the region. In regard to vehicle trips associated with the proposed Project, gasoline demand generated by vehicle trips would be a minimal fraction of gasoline and diesel fuel consumption in Orange County. The text changes in the Land Use Element would not facilitate or

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\6.0 Other CEQA Considerations.docx (05/06/24) 6-3 entitle any physical development that would result in energy impacts. The text changes in the Noise Element represent a planning action intended to comply with State law and to reflect current conditions. The Mobility Element does not propose any physical improvements such as new roads or expanded roads that could have a potential impact on public services and utilities. Therefore, impacts to energy would be less than significant, and no mitigation is required.

6.3 SIGNIFICANT AND UNAVOIDABLE IMPACTS
Section 15126.2(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR describe any significant impacts that cannot be avoided. Specifically, Section 15126.2(c) states that an EIR shall:

Describe any significant impacts, including those which can be mitigated but not reduced to a level of insignificance. Where there are impacts that cannot be alleviated without imposing an alternative design, their implications and the reasons why the project is being proposed, notwithstanding their effect, should be described.

Chapter 1.0, Executive Summary, of this Program EIR (PEIR) contains a detailed summary that identifies the proposed Project’s environmental impacts as compared to existing conditions, proposed mitigation measures, and the level of significance of any impacts after mitigation. The following is a summary of the impacts that are considered significant, adverse, and unavoidable after all mitigation is applied. These impacts are also described in detail in Chapter 4.0, Existing Environmental Setting, Environmental Analysis, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures.

6.3.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The proposed Project would exceed the scaled South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Service Population greenhouse gas (GHG) threshold. Thus, Project-related emissions would have a potentially significant impact related to the generation of GHG emissions.

Before development can occur, each discretionary development project is required to be analyzed for conformance with the General Plan, zoning requirements, and other applicable local and State requirements; comply with the requirements of CEQA; and obtain all necessary clearances and permits. While individual projects accommodated under the proposed Project may not exceed SCAQMD thresholds of significance and/or statewide GHG reduction targets, the likely scale and extent of build out associated with the proposed Project would likely continue to exceed the SCAQMD thresholds for some projects. As such, implementation of Mitigation Measure (MM) GHG1 would require a project-specific assessment of potential GHG impacts and implementation of feasible mitigation measures to reduce GHG emissions. While MM GHG-1 would serve to reduce GHG emissions associated with build out of the Project, GHG emissions impacts would remain significant and unavoidable because compliance with future efficiency targets cannot be assured. As such, the Project's GHG emissions impacts would be significant and unavoidable.

6.4 SIGNIFICANT IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
Section 15126.2 (d) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR consider and discuss significant irreversible changes that would be caused by implementation of the proposed Project.

Specifically, Section 15126.2 (d) states:

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6 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\6.0 Other CEQA Considerations.docx (05/06/24) -4 Uses of nonrenewable resources during the initial and continued phases of the project may be irreversible since a large commitment of such resources makes removal or nonuse thereafter unlikely. Primary impacts and, particularly, secondary impacts (such as highway improvement which provides access to a previously inaccessible area) generally commit future generations to similar uses. Also irreversible damage can result from environmental accidents associated with the project. Irretrievable commitments of resources should be evaluated to assure that such current consumption is justified.

Generally, a project would result in significant irreversible environmental changes if the proposed consumption of resources is not justified, if the project would involve a large commitment of nonrenewable resources, or if the project would involve uses in which irreversible damage could result from any potential environmental accidents associated with the Project.

The proposed amendments to the General Plan Noise Element are considered planning/policy actions and do not include or facilitate any physical improvements or development. The commitment of limited, slowly renewable, and nonrenewable resources required for construction and operation of future development would limit the availability of these resources for future generations or for other uses during the life of the Project. However, the proposed Project would not result in an irreversible commitment of these resources, as the proposed Project would not, in itself, result in any direct physical improvements or development. Therefore, the proposed Project would not result in a commitment of limited, slowly renewable, and nonrenewable resources, and thus, would not result in significant irreversible changes.

6.5 GROWTH-INDUCING IMPACTS
Sections 15126(d) and 15126.2(e) of the State CEQA Guidelines require that an EIR analyze growthinducing impacts and state that an EIR should discuss the ways in which the proposed Project could foster economic or population growth or construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(d) also requires a discussion of the characteristics of projects that may encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment, either individually or cumulatively. A project that meets any of these criteria may be considered growth-inducing. To address these issues, potential growthinducing effects were examined through analysis of the following questions:
• Would the project remove obstacles to, or otherwise foster, population growth (e.g., through the construction or extension of major infrastructure facilities that do not presently exist in the project area, or through changes in existing regulations pertaining to land development)? • Would the project foster economic growth?
• Would approval of the project involve some characteristic that may encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment? It should be noted that growth-inducing effects are not to be construed as necessarily beneficial, detrimental, or of little significance to the environment (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.2(d)). This

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\6.0 Other CEQA Considerations.docx (05/06/24) 6-5 issue is presented to provide additional information on ways in which the proposed Project could contribute to significant changes in the environment beyond the direct consequences of implementing the proposed Project as described in earlier sections of this PEIR.

Approval of the amendments to the General Plan Circulation Element, Land Use Element, and Noise Element, the renaming of the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, and the zoning amendment are considered policy/planning actions and do not include or facilitate any physical improvements or development. The proposed zoning overlays would allow for the development of residential uses on the Potential Housing Sites. Future development that would be built in accordance with these amendments would accommodate planned regional housing growth included in SCAG’s RHNA. Future residential uses would replace existing land uses and not induce additional growth or require the extension of roads or other infrastructure because the roads and infrastructure are already in place with adequate capacity to serve the Potential Housing Sites. Thus, any public service or utility demand associated with the proposed Project would not be substantial because it would be located within an area capable of supporting it. The proposed text changes to the Noise Element and the Circulation Element, as well as the proposed name change from the Circulation Element to the Mobility Element, would not facilitate or entitle any physical development that would result in impacts to population growth. Refer to Section 4.7, Population and Housing, for more details. For the reasons stated above, the proposed Project is not considered to be growth-inducing, and therefore, the proposed Project would not result in any growth-inducing impacts.

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7.0 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM

7.1 MITIGATION MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21081.6 (enacted by the passage of Assembly Bill 3180) mandates that where significant effects have been identified, the following requirements shall apply to all reporting or mitigation monitoring programs:
• The public agency shall adopt a reporting or monitoring program for the changes made to the project or conditions of project approval in order to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment. The reporting or monitoring program shall be designed to ensure compliance during project implementation. For those changes that have been required or incorporated into the project at the request of a responsible agency or a public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project, that agency shall, if so requested by the lead agency or a responsible agency, prepare and submit a proposed reporting or monitoring program.
• The lead agency shall specify the location and custodian of the documents or other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which its decision is based. • A public agency shall provide measures to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment that are fully enforceable through permit conditions, agreements, or other measures. Conditions of project approval may be set forth in referenced documents that address required mitigation measures or, in the case of the adoption of a plan, policy, regulation, or other project, by incorporating the mitigation measures into the plan, policy, regulation, or project design.
• Prior to the close of the public review period for a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), a responsible agency, or a public agency having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by the project, shall either (1) submit to the lead agency complete and detailed performance objectives for mitigation measures that would address the significant effects on the environment identified by the responsible agency or agency having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by the project, or (2) refer the lead agency to appropriate, readily available guidelines or reference documents. Any mitigation measures submitted to a lead agency by a responsible agency or an agency having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by the project shall be limited to measures that mitigate impacts to resources that are subject to the statutory authority of, and definitions applicable to, that agency. Compliance or noncompliance with that requirement by a responsible agency or agency having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by a project shall not limit the authority of the responsible agency or agency having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by a project, or the authority of the lead agency, to approve, condition, or deny projects as provided by this division or any other provision of law.

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7.2 MITIGATION MONITORING PROCEDURES
This Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program has been prepared in compliance with PRC Section 21081.6. It describes the requirements and procedures to be followed by the City of Laguna Woods (City) to ensure that all mitigation measures adopted as part of the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Update (proposed project) will be carried out as described in the Final PEIR.

Table 7.A, below, lists the mitigation measures specified in the Draft PEIR and identifies the party or parties responsible for their implementation and monitoring. Table 7.A only includes resources that were evaluated in the Draft PEIR.

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Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
No. Mitigation Measure Timing of Completion Responsible Party Completion Date and Team Member Initials

4.4 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
MM GHG-1 Prior to discretionary approval by the City of Laguna Woods (City) for residential development projects subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review (i.e., nonexempt projects), project applicants shall prepare and submit a technical assessment evaluating potential project-related greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts to the City for review and approval. The
evaluation shall be prepared in conformance with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) methodology. If project-related GHG emissions exceed applicable SCAQMD
thresholds of significance and/or statewide GHG reduction targets, the City of Laguna Woods shall require that applicants for new development projects incorporate mitigation measures to reduce GHG emissions. Mitigation measures could include, but are not limited, to energy efficiency measures, water conservation and efficiency measures, solid waste measures, and transportation and motor vehicles measures. The identified measures shall be included as part of the conditions of approval.

Prior to discretionary approval by
the City of Laguna Woods for
residential development projects
subject to California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review
Project applicants

4.6 NOISE
MM N-1 Prior to discretionary approval by the City of Laguna Woods (City), residential development projects subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review (i.e., nonexempt projects) would be required to incorporate the following conditions:
 Prior to the issuance of building permits, the applicant shall submit a final acoustical report consistent with the
requirements of the California Building Standards Code or City policy, provided that City policy is no less effective than the California Building Standards Code.
o The final acoustical report shall describe in detail the noise environment and mitigation measures necessary to
achieve compliance with applicable noise standards. The report shall also describe and depict the locations of the acoustical barriers and design features of the structures required to satisfy the exterior and interior noise
standards along with satisfactory evidence, which
Prior to discretionary approval by
the City of Laguna Woods for
residential development projects
subject to California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review
Project applicants

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Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
No. Mitigation Measure Timing of Completion Responsible Party Completion Date and Team Member Initials
indicates that the sound attenuation measures specified in the final acoustical report, have been incorporated into the design of the project. Noise level calculations shall be provided using the Community Noise Equivalent Level
(CNEL) noise scale.
 The applicant shall incorporate the requirements of the City's Noise Ordinance as a note on the grading plan cover sheet, for review and approval by the City.
 The applicant shall incorporate the following measures as a note on the grading plan cover sheet:
o Construction equipment, fixed or mobile, shall be
maintained in proper operating condition with approved
noise mufflers.
o Construction staging areas shall be located away from offsite receptors and occupied buildings on site during the later phases of project development.
o Stationary equipment shall be placed such that emitted noise is directed away from residential areas to the
greatest extent feasible.
o Construction access routes shall be selected to minimize truck traffic near existing residential uses where
reasonably feasible.

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8.0 LIST OF PREPARERS

8.1 AGENCY REVIEWERS
City of Laguna Woods
The following individuals reviewed and provided input on the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and Technical Reports:
• Rebecca Pennington, Development Administrator (former, through October 2023) • Christopher Macon, City Manager

8.2 DRAFT PEIR PREPARERS
LSA
The following individuals were involved in the preparation of this Draft PEIR:
• Ashley Davis, Principal in Charge
• Ryan Bensley, Environmental Principal
• Steve Letterly, Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager • Scott Vurbeff, Associate/Project Manager (formerly LSA) • Cara Carlucci, Senior Air Quality Specialist
• JT Stephens, Principal Air/Noise Specialist
• Ambarish Mukherjee, Transportation Principal
• Casey Tibbet, M.A., Associate/Cultural Resources Manager • Tamar Gharibian, Assistant Environmental Planner (formerly LSA) • Olivia Mattair, Assistant Environmental Planner
• Matt Phillips, Graphics Technician
• Meredith Canterbury, Senior GIS Specialist
• Lauren Johnson, Technical Editor
• Chantik Virgil, Senior Word Processor

8.3 TECHNICAL REPORT PREPARERS
The following individuals were involved in the preparation of the technical reports in support of this Draft PEIR. The nature of their involvement is summarized below.

LSA
The following individual was involved in the preparation of the Construction Emissions Calculations:
• Cara Carlucci, Senior Air Quality Specialist
The following individual was involved in the preparation of the Historic-Period Built Environment Sensitivity Study for the Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update, Laguna Woods, California:
• Casey Tibbet, M.A., Associate/Cultural Resources Manager

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8 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\8.0 List of Preparers.docx «05/06/24» -2 The following individual was involved in the preparation of the City of Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update - Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis:
• Ambarish Mukherjee, P.E., AICP
9-1

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9.0 REFERENCES
CHAPTER 2.0: INTRODUCTION
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). 2007. Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer. Website: https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/ (accessed October 14, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2015. General Plan EIR. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/06/Laguna-Woods-EIR-Final.pdf (accessed October 14, 2022). _____. City of Laguna Woods General Plan. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/ government/general-plan/ (accessed October 2022).
_____. City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code. Website: cityoflagunawoods.org/government/ municipal-code/ (accessed October 2022).

SECTION 4.1: AESTHETICS
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2018. California State Scenic Highway System Map. Website: https://caltrans.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=465dfd 3d807c46cc8e8057116f1aacaa (accessed August 5, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2002. General Plan Environmental Impact Report. Website: https://city oflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Laguna-Woods-EIR-Final.pdf (accessed August 4, 2022).
_____. 2007. General Plan Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/Open-Space-Element.pdf (accessed August 5, 2022). _____. 2011. Municipal Code. Chapter 13.12 Codified through Ordinance No. 03-03, Section 5 (18.20.315) on April 16, 2003, and Ordinance No. 11-01, Section 4(Exh. 5) on January 19, 2011.

Website: https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances ?nod eId=TIT13ZO_CH13.12OPSPDI_S13.12.030DEST (accessed August 31, 2022). _____. 2011. Municipal Code. Section 13.08.060 Codified through Ordinance No. 03-03, Section 5(18.20.120) on April 16, 2003, and Ordinance No. 11-01, Section 4(Exh. 3) on January 19, 2011. Website: https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances ?nodeId=TIT13ZO_CH13.08REDI (accessed August 31, 2022). _____. 2017. General Plan Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/ wp-content/uploads/2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed August 5, 2022).

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9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) -2 United States Census Bureau. 2010. Mission Viejo—Lake Forest—San Clemente, CA Urbanized Area No. 57709. Website: https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/UAUCRefMap/ua/ua57 709_mission_viejo--lake_forest--san_clemente_ca/DC10UA57709_001.pdf (accessed August 2, 2021).

SECTION 4.2: AIR QUALITY
California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2000a. Fact Sheet – California’s Plan to Reduce Diesel Particulate Matter Emissions. October. Website: www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/factsheets/rrpfact sheet.pdf (accessed November 2022).
_____. 2000b. Risk Reduction Plan to Reduce Particulate Matter Emissions from Diesel-Fueled Engines and Vehicles. October. Prepared by the Stationary Source Division and Mobile Source Control Division. Website: www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/documents/rrpFinal.pdf (accessed November 2022).
_____. 2005. Air Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Health Perspective (CARB Handbook).

April.
_____. 2016. Ambient Air Quality Standards.
_____. 2018. Sources and Health Effects of Air Pollutants _____. 2020. Inhalable Particulate Matter and Health (PM2.5 and PM10). Website: ww2.arb.ca.gov/ resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health (accessed November 2022).

California Air Resources Board (CARB) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 2021. Ambient Air Quality in the Project Vicinity.

City of Laguna Woods. 2002. Laguna Woods General Plan, Conservation Element. October. Website:
https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-07-29-AdoptedCLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed November 2022).

Iowa Environmental Mesonet. 2021. Windrows. Website: https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/sites/ windrose.phtml?—network=CA_—ASOS&station=LGB. (accessed November 2022).

Propper, Ralph, Patrick Wong, Son Bui, Jeff Austin, William Vance, Álvaro Alvarado, Bart Croes, and Dongmin Luo. 2015. Ambient and Emission Trends of Toxic Air Contaminants in California.

American Chemical Society: Environmental Science & Technology. Website: pubs.acs.org/doi/ full/10.1021/acs.est.5b02766 (accessed November 2022).

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). 1993. CEQA Air Quality Handbook. Website:
http://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/ceqa/air-quality-analysis-handbook/ceqaair-quality-handbook-(1993), (accessed November 2022). _____. 2016a. Final 2016 Air Quality Management Plan. March. 9-3

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) _____. 2016b. South Coast Air Basin Attainment Status.
_____. 2021. Localized Significance Thresholds. Website: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/rulescompliance/ceqa/air-quality-analysis-handbook/localized-significance-thresholds (accessed November 2022).
_____. Air Quality Significance Thresholds. Website: http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/ ceqa/handbook/scaqmd-air-quality-significance-thresholds.pdf (accessed November 2022).

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2020. Connect SoCal 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. Website: https://scag.ca.gov/ sites/main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal-plan_0.pdf?1606001176 (accessed November 2022).

Supreme Court of California, 2015. Sierra Club, Revive the San Joaquin, and League of Women Voters of Fresno, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. County of Fresno, Defendant and Despondent, and Friant Ranch, L.P., Real Part in Interest and Despondent. April.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2017. Criteria Air Pollutants. October.

Website: www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants (accessed November 2022).

Western Regional Climate Center. 2015. Website: https://wrcc.dri.edu/summary/Climsmsca.html (accessed June 2022).

SECTION 4.3: ENERGY
California Energy Commission (CEC). 2018. California Energy Demand, 2018–2030 Revised Forecast.

Publication Number: CEC-200-2018-002-CMF. February. Website: https://efiling.energy.ca. gov/getdocument.aspx?tn=223244 (accessed November 2022). _____. 2020a. Electricity Consumption by County and Entity. Website: http://www.ecdms.energy.ca. gov/elecbycounty.aspx and http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecbyutil.aspx (accessed November 2020).
_____. 2020b. Supply and Demand of Natural Gas in California. Website: https://www.energy.ca. gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-natural-gas-market/supply-and-demandnatural-gas-california (accessed November 2022). _____. 2022a. 2021 Integrated Energy Policy Report. California Energy Commission. Docket Number:
21-IEPR-01.
_____. 2022b. 2022 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update. California Energy Commission. Docket Number: 22-IEPR-01.
_____. 2022c. 2020 Total System Electric Generation. Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov/datareports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2021-total-system-electric-generation (accessed November 2022).

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9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) -4 California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). 2020. Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program.

Website: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/rps/ (accessed November 2020).

Southern California Edison (SCE). 2020. About Us. Website: https://www.sce.com/about-us/who-weare (accessed November 2022).

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). 2020. About SoCalGas. Website: https://www3.socal gas.com/about-us/company-profile (accessed November 2022).

United States Department of Energy. 2007. “Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007.” Website:
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/eisa (accessed November 2022).

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). “Table 4‐23: Average Fuel Efficiency of U.S.

Light Duty Vehicles.” Website: https://www.bts.dot.gov/bts/bts/content/average-fuelefficiency-us-light-duty-vehicles (accessed November 2022).

United States Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2020a. California State Profile and Energy Estimates. Table F3: Motor gasoline consumption, price, and expenditure estimates, 2018.

Website: eia.gov/state/seds/data.php?incfile=/state/seds/sep_fuel/html/fuel_mg.html&sid =CA (accessed November 2022).
_____. 2020b. Electricity Explained. Website: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/ (accessed November 2022).
_____. 2020c. Natural Gas Explained- Use of Natural Gas. Website: https://www.eia.gov/energy explained/index.php?page=natural_gas_use (accessed November 2022).

SECTION 4.4: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2007a. “ARB approves tripling of early action measures required under AB 32” News Release 07-46. October 25.
_____. 2007b. Expanded List of Early Action Measures to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California Recommended for Board Consideration. October. _____. 2014. Cap-and-Trade Program. Website: www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm (accessed September 2022).
_____. 2017a. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. November. _____. 2017b. Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. March. Website: https://ww2.arb. ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/final_SLCP_strategy.pdf (accessed November 2022). _____. 2018. Senate Bill 375 Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets 9-5

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) _____. 2021a. California Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2000 to 2019, Trends of Emissions and Other Indicators Report. Website: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/inventory/pubs/reports/2000 _2019/ghg_inventory_trends_00-19.pdf (accessed November 2022). _____. 2021b. GHGs Descriptions & Sources in California. Website: ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-descriptionssources (accessed November 2022). _____. 2022. 2022 Scoping Plan Update. May 10. Website: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/ files/2022-05/2022-draft-sp.pdf (accessed March 2023).

California Coastal Commission (CCC). Procedural Guidance for the Review of Wetland Projects in California’s Coastal Zone. Website: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/wetrev/wetch4.html (accessed November 2022).

California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). 2006. Climate Action Team Report to Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature. March.

City of Laguna Woods. 2002. Laguna Woods General Plan, Conservation Element. October. Website:
https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-07-29-AdoptedCLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed June 2022). _____. 2014. Laguna Woods Climate Adaptation Plan. December. Website: https://www.adaptation clearinghouse.org/resources/city-of-laguna-woods-climate-adaptation-plan.html#:~:text= Maintain%20low%20levels%20of%20heat,water%20conservation%2C%20efficiency%2C%20 and%20independence (accessed November 2022).

Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) 4.1. January 15, 2009, 1 of 784 Final Report, United States CCSP, Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1. Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region. Lead Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Other Key Participating Agencies: U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Contributing Agencies: Department of Transportation.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Summary for Policymakers. February.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). 1993. CEQA Air Quality Handbook. _____. 2008. Interim CEQA GHG Significance Threshold for Stationary Sources, Rules and Plans.

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2020. Connect SoCal 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. Website: https://scag.ca.gov/ sites/main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal-plan_0.pdf?1606001176 (accessed November 2022).

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9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) -6 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 2021. GHG Data from UNFCCC.

Website: unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/greenhouse-gasdata/ghg-data-unfccc/ghg-data-from-unfccc (accessed November 2022).

United States Department of the Interior. 2007. Environmental Water Account Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR to the Environmental Water Account Final EIS/EIR, Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region, Sacramento, California. October.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2017. Black Carbon, Basic Information.

February 14, 2017. Website: 19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/airquality/black carbon/basic.html (accessed November 2022).
_____. 2020. Air Quality and Climate Change Research. Website: https://www.epa.gov/air-research/ air-quality-and-climate-change-research (accessed November 2022). _____. 2021. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019. Website:
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks1990-2019 (accessed November 2022).

SECTION 4.5: LAND USE AND PLANNING
City of Laguna Woods. 2003. Municipal Code Section 13.24.120. Codified by Ordinance No. 03-03, Section 5(18.50.200) on April 16, 2003. Website: https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_ woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13ZO_CH13.24DIPEPR_S13.24.120ZOCOAMZ OCH (accessed August 15, 2022).
_____. 2015. Circulation Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/06/Circulation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). _____. 2015. Conservation Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/07/2015-07-29-Adopted-CLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).
_____. 2015. Noise Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/ 06/Noise-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).
_____. 2015. Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/06/Open-Space-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). _____. 2017. General Plan Land Use Map. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Map-Final.pdf (accessed August 12, 2022).
_____. 2017. Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). 9-7

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) _____. 2017. Zoning Map. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/ 10/2017-09-20-Adopted-Zoning-Map.pdf (accessed August 12, 2022). _____. 2022. Housing Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2022/08/2022-08-12-General-Plan-Housing-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2020. 2020–2045 Connect SoCal RTP/SCS.

Website: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal-plan0. pdf?1606001176 (accessed August 12, 2022).

SECTION 4.6: NOISE
California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). 2017. General Plan Guidelines.

City of Laguna Woods. 2002. November. Laguna Woods General Plan, Noise Element. Website:
https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-07-29-AdoptedCLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed November 2022).

SECTION 4.7: POPULATION AND HOUSING
American Planning Association (APA). 2003. Jobs-Housing Balance. Website: http://planning-orguploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/publication/download_pdf/PAS-Report-516.pdf (accessed June 8, 2022).

California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). 2022. 5th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation: Permits by Affordability. Website: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/aprdata-dashboard-and-downloads (accessed July 8, 2022).

California Employment Development Department (EDD). 2022a. Industry Employment and Labor Force. Website: https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/pressdatasheets.zip (accessed June 8, 2022).
_____. 2022b. Industry Employment and Labor Force by Month. Website: https://www.labormarket info.edd.ca.gov/file/indhist/allhws.zip (accessed June 8, 2022). _____. 2022c. Monthly Labor Force Data for Cities and Census Designated Places (CDP) May 2022.

Website: https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/allsubs.xls (accessed June 7, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2015. Circulation Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/Circulation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). _____. 2015. Conservation Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/up loads/2015/07/2015-07-29-Adopted-CLW-Conservation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).

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9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) -8 _____. 2015. Noise Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/ 06/Noise-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022).
_____. 2015. Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/06/Open-Space-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). _____. 2017. Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). _____. 2023. Housing Element August 2023 Draft. Website: https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023-08-04-Draft-General-Plan-Housing-Element.pdf (accessed November 15, 2023).
_____. 2023. General Plan Housing Element 6th Cycle (2021-2029). Website: https://www.cityof lagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-22-General-Plan-HousingElement.pdf (accessed November 15, 2023).

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2001. The New Economy and Jobs/Housing Balance in Southern California. Website: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attach ments/neweconomyjobshousingbalance.pdf?1604179652 (accessed July 8, 2022). _____. 2020. 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) Demographics and Growth Forecast. Website: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/fileattachments/0903fconnectsocal_demo graphics-and-growth-forecast.pdf (accessed July 6, 2022).

United States Census Bureau. 2018. American Community Survey 2018 5-Year Estimate. _____. 2020. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Website: https://data.census.gov/ cedsci/table?q=laguna%20woods%20dp02 (accessed July 8, 2022).

SECTION 4.8: PUBLIC SERVICES
City of Laguna Woods. 2007. General Plan Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflaguna woods.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Open-Space-Element.pdf (accessed August 18, 2022).
_____. 2019a. Municipal Code Chapter 10.08. Codified through Ordinance No. 16-03, Section 3 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-07, Section 3 on November 20, 2019. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10 BUCO_CH10.08CABUCO (accessed August 25, 2022).
_____. 2019b. Municipal Code Chapter 10.12. Codified through Ordinance No. 16-03, Section 3 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-08, Section 4 on November 20, 2019. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10 BUCO_CH10.12CAFICO (accessed August 25, 2022).
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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) _____. Municipal Code Section 11.04.010. Codified by Ordinance OCC, Section 7-9-700. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11P LDE_CH11.04DEFE (accessed October 13, 2022).
_____. Municipal Code Section 11.06.030. Codified by Ordinance OCC, Section 7-9-502. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11P LDE_CH11.06LOPACO_S11.06.030PUAUOB (accessed August 18, 2022). _____. Municipal Code Section 11.06.040. Codified by Ordinance OCC Section 7-9-502. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11P LDE_CH11.06LOPACO (accessed August 25, 2022).
_____. Municipal Code Section 12.12.210. Codified by Ordinance OCC Section 7-9-289. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12S U_CH12.12STDE_S12.12.210FIPR (accessed August 25, 2022).

Fehr Peers. 2019. Short Range Transit Plan. Website: https://www.lagunawoodsvillage.com/ documents/view/3711/FehrPeers%20Short%20Range%20Transit%20Plan_092019.pdf?v=15 70228141 (accessed August 25, 2022).

Orange County. 2012. General Plan Chapter V Public Services and Facilities Element. Website:
https://ocds.ocpublicworks.com/sites/ocpwocds/files/import/data/files/8639.pdf (accessed August 18, 2022).

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). 2021. 2021 Statistical Annual Report. Website: https://ocfa.org/ Uploads/Transparency/OCFA%20Annual%20Report%202021.pdf (accessed August 17, 2022). _____. 2022a. OCFA Coverage. Website: https://ocfa.org/AboutUs/PartnerCities.aspx (accessed August 17, 2022).
_____. 2022b. Orange County Fire Authority FY 2021/22 Adopted Budget. Website: https://www. ocfa.org/Uploads/Transparency/OCFA%202021-2022%20Adopted%20Budget.pdf (accessed August 17, 2022).

Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). 2022a. About OC Sheriff. Website: https://www. ocsheriff.gov/about-ocsheriff (accessed August 17,2022). _____. 2022b. Southwest Operations. Website: https://www.ocsheriff.gov/commands-divisions/ patrol-operations-command/southwest-operations (accessed August 17, 2022).

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). 2022a. Route 83. Website: https://www.octa.net/ ebusbook/RoutePDF/route083.pdf (accessed August 25, 2022). _____. 2022b. Route 89. Website: https://www.octa.net/ebusbook/RoutePDF/route089.pdf (accessed August 25, 2022).

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Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD). 2022a. Adjustment in Developer Fees. Effective July 6, 2022. Website: https://www.svusd.org/uploaded/SVUSD_Department_Files/ Facilities/Developer_Fee/Developer_Fees_Level_1_Notification_Memo_Levied_ June_6,_ 2022 ADA. pdf (accessed October 19, 2022).
_____. 2022b. Residential and Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study.

Website: https://www.svusd.org/uploaded/SVUSD_Department_Files/Facilities/ Developer_ Fee/SaddlebackValleyUSD_FS_2122_Fn.pdf (accessed August 18, 2022).

Shapell Industries vs. Milpitas Unified School District. 1991. Website: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/cacourt-of-appeal/1775084.html (accessed October 19, 2022).

State of California. 2007. Office of Public School Construction, School Facility Program Handbook.

April.

SECTION 4.9: RECREATION
City of Laguna Woods. 1999. Municipal Code Chapter 11.06. Codified through OCC Section 7-9-502.

Website: https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?node Id=TIT11PLDE_CH11.06LOPACO_S11.06.030PUAUOB (accessed August 10, 2022). _____. 2007. Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflaguna woods.org/wp-content/up loads/2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed September 21, 2022).
_____. 2007. Open Space Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/06/Open-Space-Element.pdf (accessed August 10, 2022).

United States Census Bureau. 2020. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Website: https:// data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p1&g=1600000US0617750,0639259&tid=DECENNIALPL 2020.P1 (accessed September 21, 2022).

SECTION 4.10: TRANSPORTATION
California Supreme Court. California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) 62 Cal. 4th 369. December 28, 2018.

City of Laguna Woods. 2007. Land Use Element. Website: https://www.cityoflaguna woods.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/09/08-2017-General-Plan-Land-Use-Element-Final.pdf (accessed September 21, 2022).
_____. 2015. Circulation Element. Website: https://cityoflagunawoods.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/06/Circulation-Element.pdf (accessed October 18, 2022). 9-11

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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). 2018. Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA (Technical Advisory). December 2018.

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition.

LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA). 2022. City of Laguna Woods General Plan and Zoning Code Update - Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis Memorandum. October 25, 2022.

SECTION 4.11: UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2022a. Multi-Year Countywide Origin Summary. Website: https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/Disposal Reporting/Origin/CountywideSummary (accessed September 1, 2022). _____. 2022b. SWIS Facility/Site Inspection Details – Stanton Recycling and Transfer Facility. Website:
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/SolidWaste/SiteInspection/Details/344362 (accessed October 11, 2022).

California Energy Commission (CEC). 2020a. Gas Consumption by County. Website: http://www. ecdms.energy.ca.gov/gasbycounty.aspx (accessed September 1, 2022). _____. 2020b. Gas Consumption by Entity. Website: http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/gasbyutil. aspx (accessed September 1, 2022).
_____. 2020c. Electricity Consumption by County. Website: http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecby county.aspx (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. 2020d. Electricity Consumption by Planning Area. Website: http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/ elecbyplan.aspx (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. 2020e. Electricity Consumption by Entity. Website: http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecby util.aspx (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. 2020f. 2020 Total Electricity System Power. Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov/datareports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2020-total-system-electric-generation/ 2020 (accessed September 8, 2022).

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). 2022a. California Gas Report. Website: https://www. socalgas.com/sites/default/files/Joint_Utility_Biennial_Comprehensive_California_Gas_ Report_2022.pdf (accessed September 1, 2022).
_____. 2022b. Natural Gas and California. Website: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/ natural-gas/natural-gas-and-california (accessed September 1, 2022).

City of Laguna Woods. 2019a. Municipal Code Section 10.08.010. Codified through Ordinance No. 16- 03, Section 3 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-07, Section 3 on November 20,

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9 P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) -12 2019. Website: https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances ?nodeId=TIT10BUCO_CH10.08CABUCO (accessed September 8, 2022). _____. 2019b. Municipal Code Section 10.10.010. Codified through Ordinance No. 16-03, Section 5 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-07, Section 5 on November 20, 2019. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?NodeId=TIT10 BUCO_CH10.10CAELCO (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. 2019c. Municipal Code Section 10.16.010. Codified through Ordinance No. 16-03, Section 6 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-07, Section 7 on November 20, 2019. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/codeofordinances?nodeId=TIT10 BUCO_CH10.16CAPLCO (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. 2019d. Municipal Code Section 10.24.010. Codified through Ordinance No. 16-03, Section 8 on December 21, 2016, and Ordinance No. 19-07, Section 11 on November 20, 2019. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10 BUCO_CH10.24CAGRBUSTCO (accessed September 8, 2022).
_____. Municipal Code Section 12.12.130. Codified through Ordinance OCC Section 7-9-280. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12 SU_CH12.12STDE_S12.12.130UNUTLI (accessed September 8, 2022). _____. Municipal Code Section 12.12.140. Codified through Ordinance OCC Section 7-9-281. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12 SU_CH12.12STDE_S12.12.130UNUTLI (accessed September 8, 2022). _____. Municipal Code Section 12.12.150. Codified through Ordinance OCC Section 7-9-282. Website:
https://library.municode.com/ca/laguna_woods/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId= TIT12 SU_CH12.12STDE_S12.12.130UNUTLI (accessed September 8, 2022).

El Toro Water District (ETWD). 2021. Urban Water Management Plan. Website: https://etwd.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/07/ETWD-2020-UWMP-FINAL-2021.06.22.pdf (accessed August 26, 2022).
_____. 2022. Facts and Figures. Website: https://etwd.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/ (accessed August 26, 2022).

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). 2021. 2021 Statistical Annual Report. Website: https://ocfa. org/Uploads/Transparency/OCFA%20Annual%20Report%202021.pdf (accessed September 21, 2022).
_____. 2022. Orange County Fire Authority FY 2021/22 Adopted Budget. Website: https://www. ocfa.org/Uploads/Transparency/OCFA%202021-2022%20Adopted%20Budget.pdf (accessed September 21, 2022).
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P:\LWD2102.03\04.2 - Draft EIR\9.0 References.docx (05/06/24) Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD). 2008. Base Map of Drainage Facilities in Orange County. Website: https://ocip.ocpublicworks.com/sites/ocpwocip/files/2021-09/ocfd57.pdf (accessed August 26, 2022).

Southern California Edison (SCE). 2019. Southern California Edison’s Service Area. Website:
https://download.newsroom.edison.com/create_memory_file/?f_id=5cc32d492cfac24d21a ecf4c&content_verified=True (accessed August 26, 2022).

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). 2016. Maps Showing Local Service Zones of Southern California Gas Company. Website: https://tariff.socalgas.com/regulatory/tariffs/tm2/pdf/ Local_Svc_Zones.pdf (accessed August 26, 2022).

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NOP COMMENT LETTERS

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